University of Virginia Library

Creative Americans

SIMS has an elaborate public
relations machinery, staffed by
people who understand what
Americans need to know to become
convinced of such a process.
Maharishi considers Americans to
be the most creative people on
earth and accordingly spends a
good deal of time in the States,
where his technique should most
easily take root. TM, both
inherently and in its packaging, is
superbly tailored to the American
experience.

For Americans of the "show
me" mentality, its properties can
both be directly experienced and
scientifically corroborated. Its goal
of relaxation is perfect for a
stressful, pill and entertainment
laden escapist culture. The
simplicity with which it can be
practised is essential to a public
raised on dishwashers and electric
can openers. Crucially, it is not
connected to any religion: it is a
technique pure and simple. While
all those things help make TM more
acceptable to Americans, TM's very
effortlessness creates a problem. To
a society which also equates
accomplishment with effort and
goodness with striving, the efficacy
of so simple a technique is suspect.

A physical headquarters for the
SIMS organization has been
established and two full time
teachers of TM, Larry and Linnea
Wardwell, will be making a regular
program available to the
community. This program will
include regular courses in the
practice of TM, which involve two
introductory lectures open to
anyone, followed by a four day
program of personal instruction.