Transcendental Meditation (TM) and Re-Evaluation Counseling in Schools

Two programs have infiltrated schools which did not have policies in place to ensure legitimate and safe practices only are given to young students. These two programs are now facing public exposure and important scrutiny. Without sufficient understanding of these programs and the organizations that are contracted to promote them in the schools, there is a distinct danger of undue influence to vulnerable minors. In Chicago, Transcendental Meditation (TM) was used in public high schools for four years. The program, known as “Quiet Time,” was promoted to reduce behavioral problems but contained Hindu religious elements and secret practices. In Boston, Re-evaluation Counseling was included for many years in the Boston Student Advisory Committee (BSAC) program. Recent information from student members of the BSAC shows that they felt pressured and obligated to participate in this controversial pseudo-therapy form of peer counseling. An independent investigation showed very disturbing practices by people with no clinical or educational credentials.

Part I: Transcendental Meditation in Chicago Public Schools

Transcendental Meditation (TM) was one of the major cults I included in my 1988 book, Combating Cult Mind Control, and I have continued to promote the work of people who had personal experience and serious concerns about TM. One of those people is Aryeh Siegel, who wrote about his 10-year experience as a TM teacher and high-ranking member of the TM organization. I consider his book, Transcendental Deception to be one of the best written about TM.

A recent decision allowed a lawsuit in Chicago regarding the use of Transcendental Meditation in public schools to go forward. This is a critical time to discuss the more recent activities of the TM organization—in particular the attempts to infiltrate their form of meditation into schools, as well as other vulnerable target groups such as veterans. The country is facing an authoritarian cult issue. Most people understand TM only through the organization’s public relations and SEO manipulation. They are not aware of the seriously problematic behaviors of its founder, or the deceptive tactics used by TM to gain access to susceptible young minds.