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John LeBlanc Special user Houston, TX 524 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-01-13 05:21, bevbevvybev wrote: What a coincidence. I find reading a book about TM cures my insomnia! John LeBlanc Houston, TX |
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Terry Holley Inner circle 1805 Posts |
Doug really believed that one day people would be seen levitating high in the air.
Illusionist Andre Kole, who was a close friend of Doug, reports in his book "Mind Games" that Doug stated in a letter in June 1993 regarding levitation that "scientists from all over the world will be coming to study this remarkable occurence" and that "this phenomenon will create a paradigm shift in the thinking of Western science" (p. 60). I saw the letter and can vouch for the fact that Doug belived this would be happening in the open in very public places, not in some hidden area of Tibet! Terry
Co-author with illusionist Andre' Kole of "Astrology and Psychic Phenomena."
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adolphus Loyal user 229 Posts |
About how Doug passed:
Doug Henning passed away from liver cancer, nearly four years ago, at age 52. It was said that he believed that Maharishi's Ayurvedic treatments (which traditionally, could include ingesting crushed gemstones for cancer!) would heal him. I've read things like that at his memorial service, his wife Debbie said he finally accepted it was his time to go, even though there was no trace of cancer in him when he passed. Some claim that the Maharishi University area, where Doug often stayed, had a higher than average cancer rate, and point their fingers at the herbal remedies and lifestyles peddled there. Others will say that cancer is more prevalent in all chemically laden farm country. It may all be Urban Rumor. About "Yogic flying": The "Supernormal" ability to literally "levitate" in the air is outlined in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, which the TM movement taught quite literally. The "hopping" motion was noted, among other sources, many years ago, in a journal by an English observer in India who watched a young adept "practice" this. There was a fringe kind of eschatology among many of the core followers of the TM Movement. The coming "Age of Enlightment" (like what Doug would mention when signing off his TV specials) was already thought to be on it's way in the mid-70's. Maharishi appeared on the cover of Time, and on Merv twice. TM initiations were booming. Then they dropped sharply off. The "Supernormal Ability TM Sidhis" (or, more cynically, "new TM marketing plan") followed this wave, though some big names in the movement left around that time (Maharishi's supposed successor, Deepak Chorpa, being one). The irrefutable ability to levitate was to be, in many follower's minds, the TM Movement's "Rapture" to show the rest of the world. It seemed credible in that atmosphere at the time. The Movement and the Maharishi attracted remarkably little critical publicity. They were "right" about so many other things - including published neurological, medical, geriatric, and even crime statistic, research (all of which came under fire later). The movement, particularly the Maharishi campus, in Fairfield, Iowa, saw a steady stream of course-taking celebs, actors, musicians, financiers, CEOs and notable scientists. Anything seemed possible to those who would believe (indeed, mentalism and "pyschic" stunts always appeal to the more educated). It made it seem that the mudhole in the middle of nowhere was now the center of the universe. And Doug was one of the stongest believers. Later, they became more pre-occupied with marketing herbal remedies, health spas, good-vibe architecture and quixotic distractions like "Heaven on Earth" (in Dallas!), "The world's Tallest Building" (in Columbia!) and Doug's "Maharishi Veda Land" Theme Park (near Niagra Falls!). The town is now a New Age Mecca of the Mid-West, with more therapists, healers, & seekers, (not to mention Indian and Thai eateries) per capita than anywhere in the US. Some of you hard-core billet boys should consider giving a few "seminars" out there - you'd probably clean up (if the followers have any money left for you)! This perspective comes from someone who also logged many hours sitting on his keister in "the Golden Dome of Pure Knowledge." Sometimes, I would be sitting next to Doug. I wasn't into conjury then, and I didn't know him much better than anyone else did there. He was just a friendly, humble guy who enjoyed blending in with others and getting a break from the limelight. Some teased that I looked like him,(must have been my droopy mustache then) . But I had the shorter hair that was mandantory in that parochial-school type atmosphere (whereas Doug kept his long doo - celebrity had it's perks there). I replaced the vacancy at an art studio that Debbie left soon after she met Doug. They even got married, to world publicity, in the "levitation dome", (though the my strongest memory of that event was how Tony the baker served hundereds of people sheet baked wedding cake that was, and STILL IS, the very best I ever tasted - that was some REAL magic!) The Levitation bit: It could be comfortably explained away as a combination of self-hypnosis, hysteria, hypervenilating breath exercises and, for some, an almost "primal therapy" form of stress release. I was young, naive, idealistic, but also typically cynical in that sophmoric, anti-authoritan way. I was primarily attracted to the brain research and the self-development aspects of the practice. But many students discovered there was more to this stuff than the Western, scientific-sounding window-dressing. Still, I noticed just a few things that did not seem to fit any of the hypnotic pretexts mentioned above (though Andre Kole, another nice guy, and devout Christian, only shook his head when I mentioned this to him!) . But I wasn't that curious anymore and couldn't see continuing. I left it all behind after a couple of years. Health nuttism, kite flying, asanas, working out, (or just trying to spend less time on the computer) are pretty much my current wholistic regimes. That's all I have to say about the subject, as it seemed a lifetime ago (so don't bother with the PMs!).
"Unlike the mere Conjuror, the Mentalist reaches into that space which a hat normally covers. And from there, he withdraws something more fleeting - and at times, far fuzzier - than any rabbit"
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Mikael Eriksson Inner circle None of your business 1064 Posts |
Adolphus, it was nice to hear some inside stories.
Thanks. Mikael |
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