Myth #10: Transcendental Meditation organization is a $3.5 billion empire

It’s a non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) educational organization, called Maharishi Foundation. The money from TM course fees goes to support teaching activities — including the subsidizing of meditation courses in inner cities, on Native American reservations, for impoverished students in developing nations, and meditation programs for the homeless — all of whom can learn the TM technique free of charge.

No individual or organization has ever made a lucrative profit from teaching the Transcendental Meditation technique — the Foundation is just not set up that way. There are no highly paid share holders, no kickbacks — only modest salaries paid to organizational staff. As with all non-profits, the financial records are public access. 

The TM organization's only assets are teaching centers, schools, Maharishi Ayurveda Health Centers or properties under development for these purposes. 

Officials of Maharishi Foundation state that the "$3.5 billion" figure, often cited on the Internet and by reporters, exaggerates Maharishi Foundation's net worth many times over; it was never a credible or verified citation but seems to have been just a number that some writer or blogger picked out of the air, and which others then began to cite without checking their facts.
 
For anyone wishing to learn the TM technique who cannot afford the full course fee, Maharishi Foundation offers payment plans, special reduced rates, grants, scholarships, work-study programs and other financial aid options. Due to the non-profit structure, anyone who wants to learn the TM technique can learn.






Myth #10: The Transcendental Meditation organization is a moneymaking $3.5 billion empire.

Myth #11: When learning Transcendental Meditation you undergo a religious ceremony.

Myth #12: Transcendental Meditation is a form of Hinduism
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