Man with an offer hard to refuse?

Press, 1 May 1984, Page 8

Man with an offer hard to refuse?

Brahmachari Nandkishore is a man with an offer it would seem difficult to refuse — a solution to all the world’s problems. He sits cross-legged in his Christchurch hotel room, patiently and peacefully explaining his message to the non-believers. He is one of the 10 chief ministers of the World Government of the Age of Enlightenment, but when asked he describes himself simply as a student of Maharishi, the movement’s founder. He is originally from India but now travels

around the world spreading the message of peace, harmony and progress through transcendental meditation. He was in Christchurch yesterday to assist those practising and teaching TM, as it is known. The message is an impressive one: New Zealand could use TM to control the world by “remote control,” helping to end crime, disease, and all other world problems. The key to this problemfree world is in contacting all the laws of nature in a state of pure consciousness achieved through transcendental meditation. All activity is controlled by a law of nature and problems occur when these laws are violated. By aligning with these laws, we can control anything, Brahmachari said. Through meditation the individual opens himself to his true potential. All activities of the body and mind are transcended, stresses and strains are dissolved and even the ageing process can be reversed, he said. Collectively TM practitioners can influence their

governments and, if there are enough, the world. A taste of the utopia possible through TM was given in a tbree-week assembly of 7000 practitioners at the movement’s university in lowa, during December and the first week of January. While this group was assembled international relations improved, social harmony increased and there were signs of world-wide economic recovery, Brahmachari said. A gathering of TM practitioners equal to 1 per cent of New Zealand’s population could similarly shape the destiny of this country and the world. The ultimate aim is the total and infinite progress and fulfilment of the world, a world without hostility, crime or disease. In spite of the religious overtones TM is not a religion, he said. It can be used by the followers of any religion to increase their awareness of their creator and he compared the state of pure consciousness with ' the Christian idea of the kingdom of heaven within.