Is TM a cult?
The short answer...
The short answer is this... If by "cult" you mean an organization like the Moonies or Scientologists then, yes, TM is most definitely a cult.
The long answer...
For the long answer, we have to cut through a jungle of semantic complexity. First, we have to define what we mean by "TM." We have to distinguish between "TM the relaxation technique" and "TM the religion".
When TM advocates talk in public about TM, they are always practicing a "mental reservation." They are secretly referring only to the relaxation technique. And a relaxation technique in and of itself just relaxes. That is why a well-known secularized version of TM in no way a "cult."
So in what follows I will be doing the opposite of what TM advocates do. I will be referring only to "TM the religion."
What is a cult?
So what do I mean by a "cult"? Now we have really opened a semantic can of worms. The word "cult" has a myriad of denotations and connotations.
But when I used the word "cult" in the "short answer" above, I was obviusly using it as a strong pejorative. So what do I mean by "cult"? None of the above, i.e. I am not referring to any of the definitions in that link. In particular I most emphatically am not referring to this definition: "A religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader." Why?:
- I have absolutely no problem with a groups whose teachings I personally consider to be merely "false", i.e. whose teachings I don't accept. I am not personally entranced with Zoroastrianism, but I don't hold any negative opinions about it.
- Labeling "unorthodox" groups as "cults" by other "mainstream" groups is quite common. But I don't have problems with a teaching just because it differs from some other supposedly "mainstream" teaching.
