Transcendental Meditation, Vedic Science and Science
Nova Religio May 1, 2011 Scott Lowe
Over the last fifty years, the Transcendental Meditation Organization (TMO) of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has used science in three distinct phases. From 1957, the movement emphasized Indian spiritual teachings and downplayed science. In 1970, the TMO transformed into a modern, science-based business promoting physiological and psychological benefits. From the 1980s, a dedicated group used quantum physics to support Maharishi's reinterpreted Vedic sciences, treating Western science as valid only when it confirmed ancient Vedic truths. The author suggests these phases likely reflect a deliberate strategy of progressive revelation rather than a gradual evolution of Maharishi's thought.