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If something happens to a child, then the only ones to blame are the parents of that child. I was raised in a family of meditators and if anything had ever happened like that to me, then my dad would have put someone in the hospital for it. He has never shirked his duties as a parent. I have met many people who do TM and they are no different than people on the street except that maybe they’re more liberal in their practices (more liberal as opposed to being conservative). I grew up coming to FF all the time and never have I seen or observed such occurrences as described herein. And as for the TM Movement is concerned, those people who neglect their children in the movement are no different than other parents on drugs or alcohol or that beat their kids. A bad parent is a bad parent. And we need to take a look around at the rest of the world. The world can be a bad place and no matter what Maharishi or any Guru says or instructs, you are responsible for raising your own children and for your own actions, not Maharishi. My dad is a great parent and is a sidha, there were times in my life that we did suffer the same things that are talked about in this blog, but it’s because we lived with my mother and her "evangelic revivalist husband". TM has been the only positive stable thing in my life, the only thing that has stood the test of time for me and has been my rock. I refuse to be a part of any negative cult and the good thing is that I'm not. I meditate and go back to FF every once and a while and when I'm there it’s really a positive experience. I’m not some tree hugging hippy and I think that it has more to do with the previous lifestyle (ie: drugs, hippy, free love, no wrk ethic) of these people than the movement it’s self. So I have this to say to those of you who were molested by meditators. Use the Catholics as your example. There are hundreds of people coming out of the woodwork against the priests and they are way over 18, so if you have the balls to do it then I support the action. Why let children suffer anywhere. Get some investigations started because my kids will definitely do TM and I don't want them to be molested, so do me a favor and make those responsible pay for their crimes. Either put up or shut up. And for the lady who wrote the blog or the girl that wrote the blog, do something about it. Why let others suffer unless you’re lying about the whole thing, or maybe there are some paranoid schizophrenics out there who have imagined all of this crap. And where I’m from, if there was some guy playing with my daughter’s bottom, I would be breaking every bone in his body and would make sure that I sent a message to the rest of the low life dirtbag child predators, meditator or no meditator. And by the way, I just got my sidhis technique about 3 months ago. Jai Guru Dev 
now that i've had time to read this post by gina, i can share a few stories that might help take the blame out of the equation.
i came to gina a few times to escape from my own family. i have a deep respect for the dead. i have to give my mother the honor she earned, and the cost she payed. our mother was, as gina said to me before her death, "unlike anyone she had ever known." and, "people like this are very, very rare."
at this time it was well known that mom was going to die. when gina visited, i had been living with robin lim and family, helping to restore a fire damaged house. while i was with her family, i took care of some of the children's needs, helped with restoring the house, and really had a great time. the good times came to an end the day that i heard from one of the children that some gossip that flowed thru the kitchen one day described me, "as fitting the profile" of a victim become perpetrator of some sort. having been abused myself, i was crushed. it is very important for me to say this: when i was tortured as a child, i knew only one thing: that i would never hurt someone in that way. it is true that there is a cycle of abuse in life. there are two simple rules about abuse: 1. don't do it. 2. don't allow it to happen to others.
this is part of the tragedy. when someone finds out you've been hurt, they suspect you will hurt others.
a few times, i looked after one of gina's sons. he was my good friend for a short time, and we had fun. it's sad to say, but i was considered un-trustworthy as a child because i was very openly resisting the domination of adults. many of us tried to protect our friends and their siblings, only to find out later that we are known as drug dealers and pedophiles ourselves.
in 1995, i taught 8th grade english as a substitute teacher at MSAE, for a very short time. a young man who became a friend later took me aside and asked me if i was indeed a drug dealer. we had a laugh about it, because i worked for purusha that year, was a vegetarian, celibate and only after about 6 months did i succumb to my love of marijuana...
someone finally recognized me, and a call was made. i was told that i had to have a teaching certificate to volunteer at the school. it was a hoot.
the gossip issues about me were never really resolved. some people actually think i'm a killer. others know that i actually work very hard to protect everyone who happens to be around me.
and no one will ever know everything about me. i'm an anecdote in the book. i'll sum this up with a joke: if you ever do want to know everything about me, get security clearance to read my file. you'll find that i've been quite a lunatic, but, no, not a rapist or a killer. just a strange artifact of time, and a family estranged from reality. and, no, i do not want reality, not really. do you?
joel
Tks, Joel, for your insight into what life-as-a-TM-kid (living within the community, vs visiting) can really be like.
hope you're OK! I'm just working like mad,
g
Joel, Again thank you for your perspective. The child-issues in the TMO are real.
You have a heart of gold and are a gentle grizzly from that history. Like most of our TM-family, still in the TMO and also those who left, the intentions are noble! Their sweetness (naivete?) palpable. The outcome is not always as desired - as you well know! As another of your buddies said, his parents were national leaders elsewhere, "I was raised by an insitution, not by a family. And the insitution lies." Your mother and father(s) likewise, some of the dearest folks I've ever known, well intentioned. Nobody intended you to be hurt. You've taken your history and become a kind, considerate light to your loved ones - like most of the TM kids. Thank you. g
Wow , thats rteally disturbing, I am very sympathetic.I was sexually abused by women in a secular/ christian community.
It is nothing to do with my parents really but is a result of living in a community per se; what I mean is this happens everywhere.
There are cultish types in ALL organisations . cause that is a common personality type: and molesters stalk for the vulnerable . the unattended in ALL organisations.
It is very sad but I don"t think it reflects on the organisation but only if an organisation that covers it up systematically ;and I am confident after 30+ years around TM that there is no such coverup.
I am really sorry to hear what happened to you, I hope you are OK.
I reakon I am OK; though there may be some effects but I veiw it as character stuff and now beleive the people who have made an industry out of counslling are naive and exagerate the harm out of their own sex-fear.
LIfe as a human is wonderful beyond imagining in spite of the blotches, the light blazes like the sun within, I feel it most of the time.
To steal a line from AK's material, Chris, 'there are no victims, only volunteers' - I suspect that in any group you will find victims and hidden abuses.
I think that's what you said elsewhere, in substance, at least.
The abuses in TM and Maheshism (the TMO circus) are there and they are not minor. But if nothing else, Mahesh was a very clever abuser. At least some of the abuse is praised in plain sight! Mother Divine, I believe it's called. But you probably cannot see it because it's so praiseworthy.
The abuse and neglect of children goes unnoticed because the devout are busy doing "program", not looking after the children. The reaction of children in cults like TM is telling; but it's explained away, glossed over ... boys will be boys, it happens everywhere, kids are like that.
"What am I not seeing" would be a useful mantra for those who enjoy cult-life. But it's an un-used mantra gathering dust.
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