A N “UNITY PERVADES ALL ACTIVITY AS WATER EVERY WAVE” D ER “UNITY PERVADES ALL ACTIVITY AS The major purpose of this thesis is to investigate some essential aspects of the teach- S L ings and philosophy of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1917-2008) expressed during different WATER EVERY WAVE” periods of time. I N Principal Teachings and Philosophy of There is a primary focus on the teachings expressed in Maharishi’s translation and com- D mentary on the didactic poem, Bhagavadgītā, with extensive references to Maharishi’s H Maharishi Mahesh Yogi metaphorical language. The philosophy and teaching expressed in this text is investi- gated in relation to later texts. Since maybe the most significant and most propagated message of Maharishi was his peace message, its theory and practice, as well as studies published regarding the so- called Maharishi Effect, are reflected in the thesis. Maharishi’s philosophy and teachings are analysed using three categories: 1. Vision and Tradition, as Maharishi could be considered on the one hand, a custodian of the ancient Vedic tradition and is associated with the Advaita Vedānta tradition of Śaṅkara from his master. On the other hand, Maharishi could be considered an innovator of this tradition and a visionary in his interpretation of the Vedic texts in relation to modern science. 2. Consciousness and Experience are central concepts in the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, as well as the relationship between them, which is evidenced by their use “ in Maharishi’s writing and lecturing. 3. Practice before Theory is a concept used because U of the numerous instances in Maharishi’s philosophy and teaching indicating that he put ni t practice before theory for spiritual development. The practice of Transcendental Medita- y P tion and the advanced TM-Sidhi programme is according to Maha rishi in his vision of a e better society most essential and he considered the application of a practice forgotten in r many interpretations of texts like the Bhagavadgītā. v a d The thesis thus considers Maharishi’s view on “Veda” and the “Vedic literature”, and on e s A the Self, Ātmā, which could be considered the single most important concept in Maha- rishi’s world of ideas on which his entire teaching is based. l l A c t Anders Lindh has a licentiate’s degree in History of Religion from Lund University and a i v i High School Teacher Diploma in the subjects of Religion and Swedish language. He has t been a teacher at the Faculty of Education and Society at Malmoe University since 1999. y a “Unity Pervades all Activity as Water every Wave” is his PhD thesis in History. s W a t e r E ORISKA PERSPEKTIV 14 v Skrifter med historiska perspektiv 14 e r y W ANDERS LINDH ISBN 978-91-7104-577-5 (print) a ISBN 978-91-7104-578-2 (pdf online) v e ” SKRIFTER MED HIST Preface ......................................................................................... 15 I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 19 Purpose ................................................................................... 24 Research Questions ................................................................ 25 Maharishi and the World around Him .................................... 25 A. Ecology ...................................................................... 30 B. Science ........................................................................ 35 Material, Method and Structure ............................................. 39 Background Issues.................................................................. 43 Selection Criteria ................................................................... 43 Origin of the Texts .................................................................. 48 Theoretical and Methodological Considerations ................... 54 Categories of Analysis ............................................................ 63 Research Review and Context ................................................ 69 Research on Transcendental Meditation ................................ 70 Maharishi University of Management and Consciousness Studies .................................................................................... 74 Vedānta and Vedic Science – Teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ......................................................... 82 Maharishi in the Advaita Tradition of Śaṅkara ..................... 84 II. HISTORICAL SURVEY ................................................ 89 Chapter 1: Teaching Transcendental Meditation to Everyone – the 1960s and Early 1970s ....................................... 91 Principal Teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi as Expressed in His Commentary on the Bhagavadgītā Chapters 1-6 ........................................................................... 91 Similes and Metaphors ........................................................... 92 Cause of Suffering .................................................................. 94 Nature of the Senses and the Mind ....................................... 101 Non-Dual Absolute Being ..................................................... 105 Transcendental Consciousness ............................................ 110 Cosmic Consciousness ......................................................... 114 God-Consciousness .............................................................. 120 Unity in God-Consciousness ................................................ 123 Transcendental Meditation .................................................. 124 Maharishi on Patañjali’s Aṣṭāṅga Yoga .............................. 127 The Enlightened Person – Jīvanmukta ................................. 129 Problem-Solving – Principle of the Second Element ........... 134 “Vedic” Concepts: ............................................................... 135 Dharma ................................................................................ 135 Karma ................................................................................... 139 Conclusions .......................................................................... 141 Suffering ............................................................................... 142 The Three Guṇas .................................................................. 142 The Senses and the Mind ...................................................... 142 Mokṣa ................................................................................... 143 Body ...................................................................................... 143 God and “gods” ................................................................... 143 Higher States of Consciousness ............................................ 145 Dharma and Karma .............................................................. 145 Categories of Analysis .......................................................... 145 Practice before Theory ......................................................... 145 Consciousness and Experience ............................................. 150 Vision and Tradition ............................................................. 155 Patterns of Form and Content in the Similes and Metaphors ............................................................................. 158 Chapter 2: Maharishi Vedic Science – the 1970s and 1980s ..... 163 Implications of the Concept of Veda..................................... 163 Maharishi Vedic Science ...................................................... 172 Seven States of Consciousness ............................................. 175 The Fourth ............................................................................ 177 The Fifth ............................................................................... 178 The Sixth ............................................................................... 180 The Seventh ........................................................................... 181 Character of Consciousness .................................................. 184 Relationship between Veda and Consciousness in Maharishi’s Teachings ......................................................... 194 The Bhagavadgītā and the Three Paths of Karma, Bhakti and Jñāna ................................................................... 197 Aspects of One Path – Karma, Bhakti and Jñāna of the Bhagavadgītā ........................................................................ 198 Conclusions .......................................................................... 202 Practice before Theory ......................................................... 203 Consciousness and Experience ............................................. 205 Vision and Tradition ............................................................. 210 Chapter 3: “My Vedic Science is the Science of Consciousness” – the 1990s ...................................................... 215 Maharishi’s Commentary on Ṛgveda, the Apauruṣeya Bhāṣya .................................................................................. 221 Conclusions .......................................................................... 232 Practice before Theory ......................................................... 232 Consciousness and Experience ............................................. 235 Vision and Tradition ............................................................. 236 Chapter 4: “Silence and Dynamism both Together” – 2002-2006 .................................................................................. 241 Maharishi