Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was the creator of Transcendental Meditation (TM) and leader of the worldwide organization that has been characterized in multiple ways, including as a new religious movement and as non-religious. He became known as Maharishi and Yogi as an adult.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1978
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1967 in The Netherlands at Concertgebouw (Amsterdam)
Left to right: Michael Cooper, Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithfull, Shepard Sherbell and Brian Jones; sitting: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (Concertgebouw Amsterdam, 1967)
The Maharishi's headquarters in Seelisberg, Switzerland
Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a form of silent meditation developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and so named to separate it from Hinduism or any other religious practice. The TM technique involves the silent repetition of a mantra or sound, and is practiced for 15–20 minutes twice per day. It is taught by certified teachers through a standard course of instruction, which costs a fee that varies by country. According to the Transcendental Meditation movement, it is a non-religious method that promotes relaxed awareness, stress relief, self-development, and higher states of consciousness. The technique has been variously described as both religious and non-religious.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, developer of the Transcendental Meditation technique.