Meditation, Delusion and Deception

TM's failure to communicate "warning labels"

Dr. Otis urged TM to "publicly recognize that problems may be engendered by meditation and so instruct potential initiates as well as to provide guidelines to both the general public and the psychotherapeutic profession for their amelioration." An ethical gum would prepare for harmful side effects, and would immediately instruct sufferers to ease off on their meditation. Instead of "warning labels" about harmful side effects, however, Maharishi taught his aides to welcome adverse symptoms as evidence of "unstressing" -- and to encourage even more intensive meditation.