Guest Report

Tim Brennan - We're Not a Crazy Cult

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a simple natural way to relieve stress and tension.

TM is not a weird cult or strange religious sect. TM is a meditation technique. It's used by people from all walks of life.

When a person takes a TM course they become self sufficient very quickly. After the course, any follow up is completely voluntary. Just like any other college or tech course.

Contrary to what others tell you, visitors to Currawong will not be able to differentiate between those who do TM and those who don't.

It's easy to learn, effortless and enjoyable to practise.

TM does not involve religious beliefs. People from all walks of life - Catholic Priests, Rabbi's, Clergymen, atheists, singles, couples, males, females, gays, straights, sports stars, parents, grand parents, movie stars, politicians - anyone and everyone learns a technique when they come to do a TM course.

TM is for everyone irrespective of race, religion or educational or social background. Sick and poor people learn TM, as do the healthy and wealthy - and everyone in between. Doctors are the single largest source of professionals who refer patients to the TM course.

TM is not just for managers. Workers enjoy TM just as much.

TM is not anti women - people from all works of life learn and enjoy TM. For example there are just as many TM teachers who are women as there are men.

At Currawong, courses will be taught to all sorts of people - not just the busy business executive as our opponents have suggested.

TM teachers are interested in helping people - it's that simple. There is absolutely no evidence to counter this statement.

TM is not anti union - in fact it helps workers overcome the effects of stress and fatigue. There is absolutely no evidence - that TM is against unionism, in fact TM recognises that group consciousness is a very positive and powerful thing. Those less vulnerable need practical assistance. Unions do this - so does TM but from a different direction.

TM is a systematic mental technique which can produce repeatedly verifiable outcomes when scrutinised by modern science.

In TM there are no special diets - no rations of brown rice or vegetarianism. Big Macs are OK. A full range of menu options will be available at Currawong.

It's practised 20 minutes twice daily, sitting in a chair. In TM there are no funny clothes, no pretzel positions, no chanting and dancing.

A meditation technique which doesn't conflict with any form of belief, life style or religion

TM requires no change in lifestyle, ie, tennis, surfing, running, bushwalking, eating out, going to the movies and theatre, reading newspapers, having a beer or a bet, sleeping in, staying out late - it's all OK.

So people who stay at Currawong can fish, swim play golf, sun themselves, have picnics, play in the sand with their children and so on.

It's a technique which has over 600 scientific studies to verify that it's benefits are available to anyone who uses the procedure regularly.

TM is not expensive ($695) given the range of scientific benefits. When compared to how much the average person spends on smoking, alcohol, entertainment etc for the vast majority of people they can make a choice.

Studies have been carried out in world famous universities such as Harvard, Yale, Cambridge, UCLA, MIT, University of California, Notre Dame, Standford, Ohio State and in Australia - the UNSW, New England.

TM is used around the globe and helps people to stop drug abuse, smoking, excessive use of alcohol, anti social behaviour, criminal recidivism.

The actual experience of TM is not unlike jogging or running, doing aerobics, painting mental pictures, wishing you were some place else, fasting, reading, knitting, taking vitamins, fishing or sitting under a tree, contemplation or concentration.

TM is not a money making machine as suggested by our opponents, where all the profits go off overseas. The TM organisation in Australia channels all of it's income into further education - just like any other education organisation.

It's accounts have been audited for the last 30 years, without qualification. TM does not supply funds to any political party. It's never had a problem with government authorities at a local, state or federal level. It's easy for opponents to say TM does this or that - but where is the evidence. There is none!

TM provides a dramatic reduction in heart disease 87%, a 89% reduction in drug use by students and a 40% reduction in re-offending by convicted criminals.

TM is not the exclusive domain of business executives -- however doctors do prescribe TM as it does reduce heart disease. There is no evidence that TM makes a boss anti union. Whereas there is scientific evidence which says bosses and workers get along better and become more productive.

TM is a means for more successful activity which is why it is important to the busy businessmen and the unemployed, school leavers, students, housewives, self employed, unionists etc

TM is not the Natural Law party.

The Natural law party has never been involved in the Currawong proposal. The Natural Law party had five candidates in the NSW election last week. Three were women.

The NLP was formed to inform government of important issues such as the harm of genetic engineering - and the importance of evidence based medicine.

The NLP is not against democracy as the opponents suggest.

Tim Brennan is chief execuitve of Corporate Renaissance

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 7 contents

»	Labor Council to Vote on Currawong Proposal
»	The Story So Far ...
»	Costa: What I�ll Do With The Dough
»	Friends of Currawong Plan: Borrow To Grow
»	Independent Evaluation Backs TM Plan
»	How the Voting Works

»	Guest Report
»	Sport
»	Trades Hall
»	Piers Watch

»	A Real Aussie Preamble
»	The Get Stuffed Tax
»	Laboring for Education
»	Tipping: No One Got Close

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