CONSUMER WARNING:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION (TM))

Consumer Segment:

It is a new year, and like many Americans, you search for ways to incorporate a positive change into your life. You sign up to learn meditation after reading about the many health benefits it brings, and feel pleased to be taking a step toward better health. Could you unknowingly be walking into a cult? The answer is yes—unless you know how to be a smart consumer.

Guest:

Steven Alan Hassan, internationally renowned cult expert, licensed mental health counselor, author and founder of The Freedom of the Mind Resource Center, has been educating the public for decades about dangerous cults and mind control. Hassan has been meditating for years, but is concerned that many innocent people will find themselves involved in Transcendental Meditation (TM) this year. Due to clever marketing with the recent launch of film director David Lynch’s new book, TM is drawing people to their centers across the country, and is poised to grow rapidly.

TM’s leader, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, has achieved total psychological dominance over his “true believer” followers. They consider him an enlightened master and the greatest spiritual leader on the planet. In reality, he controls billions of dollars that the TM organization has amassed. During the late 1960’s, John Lennon met Maharishi in India, and wrote a less than favorable song about him, titled “Sexy Sadie.”

“We need to be educated in order to protect ourselves from getting involved in any type of cult,” Hassan said. “Many think of a cult as a group that uses high-pressure recruiting tactics, or gets members to commit suicide, sell flowers in airports, get married in mass weddings, or pursue its opponents with lawsuits. TM and many other groups do NOT operate this way, so few people recognize them as a cult. They use more subtle but equally destructive mind control techniques.”

The public views meditation as benign, which is often the case. However, when taught and practiced in a rigid, formulistic way within a totalistic group led by a grandiose leader, meditation can become a dangerous habit that could create severe psychological problems.

Steve Hassan is available to address:

• The facts about TM, and what you need to know.
• What key questions you need to ask before joining any meditation class.
• Signs that indicate the class you are involved with is a cult.
• How to leave a cult group and reclaim psychological and emotional well-being.

Additional Guests:

Hassan has counseled many ex-members of TM, and has contact with several long term ex-members, including a person who grew up inside the cult, who are willing to share their experience.

Media:

To interview Steven Hassan, contact Donna Rooney at DRPublicRelations@hotmail.com

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