Readin,’ an’ Writin,’ an’ Meditation?
Things have been quiet on the Separation of Church and State front with our new president. Unlike Bush, who actively courted Christian Fundamentalists by promoting Nation Day of Prayer and creating a massive federal bureaucracy to funnel billions to religious organizations to run social program (and proselytize) - Obama, so far, seems to be a believer in separation. Although there are no serious first amendment threats at the federal level, Americans United, ACLU, and People for the American Way litigators are keeping busy with a never-ending stream of local issues; teaching creationism/intelligent design, display of the ten commandments, prayer at school events, school vouchers, and abstinence only sex-ed. There’s a controversy brewing on the teaching Transcendental Meditation ® (TM®) in the classroom.
Transcendental Meditation ? Seems pretty harmless.
Transcendental Meditation was founded as a religious organization and brought to the West by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1959. A meditation technique that involves a mantra met with immediate success, it became famous when several celebrities, notably the Beatles, embraced the Maharishi’s brand of Eastern religion and meditation. Today the organization is worth billions from fees, publications and real estate holdings.
According to Skeptic’s Dictionary, “TM is a spiritual business whose proprietors claim it is … scientifically validated. Trainees pay hundreds of dollars for their mantras . . . the cost of TM training is $2,500.”
Although TM works for many people, its use in schools is troubling for religious liberty advocates. Critics, including Physiologist John Knapp, say it’s religion based and followers are expected to follow rituals to gods, a creation story, claims that practitioners will “experience God personally,” reciting hymns from Hindu sacred text, and other religious practices.
If TM is a religion, then schools who use it in their classrooms are violating the First Amendment’s establishment clause.
There’s a lot of controversy between TM advocates and religious liberty groups whether it’s a religion. Adherents call it a “true science” while opponents label TM as religion. The courts have ruled it a religion.
In 1979, a class on transcendental meditation was banned from New Jersey public schools on the grounds it was based on Hinduism and violated the separation of church and state. The court pointed out that students were required to chant to Hindu gods and went through a type of religious ceremony called a puja. An article in Church and State explains that during a puja, “a TM teacher sits before a student and recites in Sanskrit a long list of Hindu deities, stating in part, “Curu in the glory of Brahma, Curu in the glory of Vishnu . . .”
But TM is making a comeback. Filmmaker David Lynch (Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive) and ex-Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Star plan to sell TM to public schools nationwide.
Lynch created the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace. Headquartered in Fairfield, Iowa, it provides grants for educational initiatives at public and private schools.
TM is being promoted as a solution for “everything from poor academic performance and fidgety kids to unruly student behavior and gang violence.” The foundation is using music festivals called “Change Begins Within” to promote the use of TM in schools
According to Americans United, public schools in San Francisco, Detroit, Washington, and Hartford have TM classes. And TM programs have been proposed in Illinois, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Kentucky. Lynch is planning to raise $20 million to bring TM to at risk students in intercity schools.
Americans United has warned schools about taking foundation money, noting that TM in a public school can spark litigation.
In Marin County, school officials proposed a TM proposed program caused a community outcry. Angry parents lined up to speak against TM at school board meetings. Several threatened litigation. TM was denounced as a cult. Officials dropped the idea of bringing in TM.
What’s the future of TM and schools? Americans United says it’s monitoring the spread of TM in public education. There have been complaints, but not enough to bring a case to trial. Of course, not all meditation is religious. But if there’s a tie to a larger religious movement, then the program should be removed from public education.
According to Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United, “Advocating for a Hindu-based religious practice in public schools is the same as pushing Christianity or another faith. It’s equally unconstitutional.”
Bill Lakin is a member of the National Advisory Council of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. For more information log on to www.au.or or contact Bill at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .