Maharishi Ayur-Veda
Joseph P. Szimhart
JAMA October 2, 1991 DOI: 10.1001/jama.1991.03470130045019 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the article on Maharishi Ayur-Veda promoted unsubstantiated claims and that much of the scientific support for Transcendental Meditation relies on self-validating references and nonfalsifiable assumptions. Reports that some individuals influenced by TM developed sleep disorders, depersonalization, and dissociative disorders of varying intensity. |
Abstract
To the Editor. —Since the late 1960s I have known individuals who have been influenced by TM. Many of them have had resulting sleep disorders, a sense of depersonalization, and dissociative disorders of varying intensity. The article you published on Maharishi Ayur-Veda1sent up a number of inflated and magical balloons that advertised many unsubstantiated claims. The references in the article show the system to be mainly self-validating. Much of the "scientific" material I have read supporting TM is based on nonfalsifiable assumptions like Maharishi's idiotic extrapolations from "unified field" theories. Please help your readers, and my clients, pop these TM balloons. A bit of sharp, critical analysis is suggested. Disclosure. —Mr Szimhart reports that he has worked as a paid consultant to victims of the TM cult in the past few years.