Spiritual guru to build meditation palaces

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Spiritual guru to build meditation palaces off N.S. for global peace

 

The spiritual guru who taught the Beatles the art of transcendental

meditation is planning an international peace palace on two islands

off Nova Scotia, where followers will practice yogic flying to

promote global peace. (CP/ho)

 

JAMES KELLER

 

HALIFAX (CP) - The spiritual guru who taught the Beatles the art of

transcendental meditation is planning an international peace palace

on two islands off Nova Scotia, where followers will practice yogic

flying to promote global peace.

 

Supporters of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the India-born spiritual leader

whose teachings also inspired the Natural Law party in Canada's 1993

federal election, inaugurated the two islands in a ceremony last

week.

 

They bought the islands near the town of Canso last year for about

$350,000 and plan a $1.2-million development that includes a peace

tower, conference centre and school.

 

The group considers the area, just south of the island of Cape

Breton, the most easterly point on mainland North America - and the

first place on the continent to see the sun rise.

 

The islands will be part of the Community of Global Peace, and along

with six other sites around the world will form the community's so-

called parliament.

 

Maharishi followers believe that enough people around the world

practising yogic flying - achieved by hopping in the air while

sitting cross-legged - will create peace and bring a stop to

conflict.

 

"The constitution of the universe will radiate from these islands of

Canada," Maharishi Mahesh Yogi said in an interview from the

Netherlands.

 

"The new parliament of world peace will be from the peace-loving

people . . . who are simple, sincere, innocent."

 

The Maharishi, who is nearly 90 years old, said the world cannot

rely on government alliances such as the United Nations.

 

"The shop is a flop - the United Nations is a flop," he said.

 

"The constitution of every government, because made by human beings,

it has human weaknesses and human failings."

 

The teachings of the Maharishi have inspired a worldwide movement,

along with a multi-billion-dollar industry that includes schools and

businesses across Canada and around the world.

 

The movement espouses the benefits of transcendental meditation,

first introduced by the Maharishi 50 years ago, and a belief in

natural law.

 

It is largely based on Hindu texts called the Vedas, but the group

vehemently denies it is a religion, even taking the issue to court -

and losing - in the United States.

 

Instead, followers claim their beliefs are based on science,

embracing theories such as quantum physics and unified field theory.

 

The transcendental meditation movement shot into popularity in

Canada during the 1993 federal election.

 

The Canadian wing of the Natural Law party ran a multi-million-

dollar campaign with candidates in 136 ridings, but none came close

to winning any seats.

 

"I had to get into politics to know what is wrong there," said the

Maharishi.

 

There was also a plan in the mid-1990s to build a $900-million theme

park in Niagara Falls, Ont., but those plans stalled.

 

A sociology professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax said the

Maharishi is appealing to a secular, Western audience.

 

"It is supposed to provide you with some sort of tool that's

supposed to help people benefit in this world," said Christopher

Helland, who teaches religion and contemporary culture.

 

Helland said that is why, instead of growing as a Hindu movement,

Maharishi followers built up a global business empire and entered

politics.

 

And it may also explain the motivation to build a global network of

meditation palaces.

 

The Maharishi said the islands will have a visible and almost

immediate impact on global peace.

 

In Nova Scotia, the group is waiting on local officials to approve

its building plans before building on the islands next year.

 

The plans came as a surprise to Canso, a small town of about 900

people.

 

Mayor Ray White said he first heard the news just days before last

week's inauguration.

 

"I think anyone would accept that it is a very noble goal to promote

peace," said White.

 

But he said local residents are waiting to hear more information

about the group and their plans.

 

The islands will become the North American capital of the movement,

attracting followers from around the continent to learn and to

practice.

 

It will also offer courses on transcendental meditation and yogic

flying. Tuition at the Maharishi University of Management in

Fairfield, Iowa, tops $30,000.

 

The movement first received attention in the West in the late 1960s

when the Beatles travelled to India to study with Maharishi.

 

The popularity of transcendental meditation grew in the '70s

and '80s.

 

Followers even incorporated Vedic City, located next to Fairfield,

in 2001.

 

The Maharishi development off Nova Scotia wouldn't be the first

meditation-based belief system to have a presence in the province.

 

In 1984, a Buddhist monastery was established in Pleasant Bay,

located on Cape Breton. The monastery, Gampo Abbey, is affiliated

with the Vajradhatu Buddhist Church of Canada and Shambhala

International.

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