Maharishi Heaven on Earth Development

Last updated
The Fleck/Paterson House, Canadian HQ of Maharishi Heaven on Earth Development Corp. in the 1990s Algeria, Ottawa.JPG
The Fleck/Paterson House, Canadian HQ of Maharishi Heaven on Earth Development Corp. in the 1990s

Maharishi Heaven on Earth Development Corp. (MHOED) is a for-profit real estate developer associated with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and his Transcendental Meditation movement. First founded in Malibu California in 1988, it has sought to build utopian projects in the U.S., Canada, and Africa with a long-term goal to "reconstruct the entire world", at an estimated cost of $100 trillion. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

The US arm planned to work with developers to build 50 "Maharishi Cities of Immortals" in the US and Canada. [4] The Canadian arm bought and renovated the Fleck/Paterson House in Ottawa in 2002, earning the "adaptive use award of excellence" from the City. [5] [6] A subsidiary purchased land to build Maharishi Veda Land theme parks in Orlando, Florida and Niagara Falls, Ontario. [7] [8] [9] The Dutch arm negotiated with the presidents of Zambia and Mozambique to acquire a quarter of the land in those countries in exchange for solving their problems. [10] [11]

History

Origins

Maharishi Heaven on Earth Development Corp. was founded in Malibu, California in 1988 by its first president, money manager Monty Guild. [12] It was initially financed by Guild, who donated his shares to Maharishi University of Management. [13]

City of Immortals developments

MHOED announced in 1988 that it planned to build 50 low-density "Maharishi Cities of Immortals" across the U.S. and Canada. Each City of Immortals development would include a pond or lake, a Maharishi elementary school, a for-profit Maharishi Ayurvedic health clinic, a festival hall, and an organic vegetable garden. [14] [15] The walled and gated developments would include from 100 to 200 homes. [3] The lots would be 1-acre (4,000 m2) or larger and an equal amount of space would be devoted to common areas, like parks, lakes, and gardens. [2] Internal combustion vehicles would be parked at the perimeter and only electric carts or bicycles would be used inside the development. [2] The individual homes would be built using Maharishi Sthapatya Veda (MSV) specifications with non-toxic materials and natural ventilation. [16]

MSV design principles say that, with proper placement and orientation, one naturally feels hungry in a dining room and sleepy in a bedroom. [17] According to developer, Curtis McDonald,"What we are striving for is a complete restructuring of the world and we want to begin with the large cities in the U.S. With the Maharishi's Cities of Immortals, our plan is to establish a new way of life, to eliminate all the unhealthful aspects of the way our communities are currently being built." [18] Guild planned a 29-city tour to recruit developers. [13] The proposal was that the company would not own or build the development, but would advise the developers on MSV design and planning principles, and provide sales support, including celebrity endorsements, for 2.5% of the construction costs, [19] plus 1% of the retail costs, plus a sales commission. [2] Half of the profits would go to financing Ideal Villages in the Third World. [2] The homes were expected to cost at least 10% more than comparable properties in normal developments. [15] In the San Francisco area, the representatives said that homes prices were expected to be between $300,000 and $1 million, depending on land costs. [16] At a later presentation in Canada, prices were predicted to be from $130,000 to $150,000. [20] A developer attending a presentation said a home with the listed amenities would cost several times that amount. [21] One announcement said that the developments would also include subsidized homes. [22]

The areas where developments might be built included Malibu, [2] Houston, [14] Austin, [14] Toronto, [14] Hartford, Connecticut, [14] and Denver. [23] In 1989, it announced that it had signed contracts with developers for projects in eight of those cities, and was on the verge of signing contracts in seven more. [24] A parcel near Austin, Texas was described as a 30-home prototype. [23] It was adjacent to a development built in 1981 called "Radiance" which was mostly populated with TM practitioners. However after two and a half years the project remained stalled for a lack of financing. [25] Construction was begun at a site owned by MHOED on Mount Shefford near Bromont, Quebec in June 1991, and 30 of the 100 lots were reported to have sold. [26] Prospective home owners supplied details about their occupation and precise birth location, date and time so that the MSV designers could properly customize the building for its intended resident. [26]

Creating these cities globally was projected to cost $100 trillion. [3] It was hoped that at least a hundred would be built around the world. [17]

An architect, who was invited to one of the promotional lunches, questioned the need for low density suburban developments. [3] Some TM practitioners were concerned about what they saw as "elitist and secretive elements" to the plans, including the elaborate security. [21]

Maharishi Veda Land

Maharishi Veda Land International (MVLI) was a wholly owned subsidiary created to finance the construction of Maharishi Veda Land themes parks being promoted by magician Doug Henning. [27] Henning was a director of MVLI and the president and chairman of Maharishi Veda Land Canada. [27] The MHOED loaned $4 million in seed money, at 11% interest. The MVLI was seeking to arrange $230 million in equity, $438 million in debt, and $60 million in sponsorships from corporations. [27] Various locations for the parks were proposed, and properties were acquired in Orlando and Niagara Falls. [7] [8] The parks were seen as complementing the Cities of Immortals, [7] and they might have been co-located. [28]

Other activities

In the 1990s MHOED began buying old hotels in U.S. city centers, purchasing over a dozen by 1994. [29]

The Maharishi Heaven on Earth Development Corp. Canada purchased the historic Fleck/Paterson House in 1992 in Ottawa for its Canadian headquarters and a subsidiary, Maharishi Vedic Education Development Institute. [30] It spent a reported $3 million to purchase and restore the 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) house, which had fallen into ruin. The restoration was praised in the press [31] and received the "adaptive use award of excellence" from the City of Ottawa. [32] Four suites were available to the public as a bed and breakfast. [33] It sold the house in 2002 to the Algerian Embassy for $2.9 million, a record price for a heritage home in Ottawa. [34] Helen Foster, then the group's director, said they were planning to spend $6 million to build a 63,000-square-foot (5,900 m2) Maharishi Peace Palace to house the movement's operations. [5]

Zambia and Mozambique

"Maharishi Heaven on Earth Development Company" (Mahedco), a company based in the Netherlands headed by Jacques Uijen, approached Zambia's President Kenneth Kaunda in 1990 with a proposal to solve the country's dire problems and to rid it of "evil and diseases". [35] In the plan, 1,000 Zambians would receive training from the TM movement and oversee the creation of utopian farming communities that would be turned over to Mahedco. The agreement covered 18 million hectares (44 million acres), 23% of the country's land surface and half of its arable land. [10] [36] Kingsley Chinkuli, the Home Affairs minister, granted Mahedco "the right to select those Zambian families which will live on the land". [37] News of the agreement came out a year later, just prior to an election, and became a significant campaign issue. [38] Kaunda admitted that the agreement existed, but denied that he went in for Transcendental Meditation himself and described the agreement as an "experiment" [38] and a "necessary catalyst" for change. [10] After objections from his cabinet ministers, Kaunda agreed to alter the agreement to start with a 2,000-acre (8.1 km2) pilot project, though if successful it would grow still to the same size incrementally. [38] The net worth of Mahedco was reported at the time to be $26,000. [36] A Zambian newspaperman was quoted as saying, "The whole thing is madness." [36] The Maharishi said that he would abandon the effort if Kaunda lost the election. [39]

After Kaunda lost his reelection bid, Mahedco sought a similar arrangement in neighboring Mozambique, where President Joaquim Chissano, his family and his cabinet were TM practitioners. [40] It wanted the right to develop 20 million hectares of "unused land" [41] by planting crops and to rebuild the country's infrastructure and health system. Chissano signed a 50-year contract which would give 40% of the profits to the Mozambique government. [42] The government denied it when the negotiations became public in 1994. [11]

A 2006 prospectus for the Raam currency/bearer bonds, issued by Stichting Maharishi Global Financing Research of MERU, Holland, lists Paul Gelderloos as the chief executive of Mahedco starting in 1990. [43] The prospectus says that Mahedco "was responsible for the implementation of poverty removal programs in third-world countries and also launched several enterprises in Holland [sic]." [43] Girish Govindji Momaya is described as the head from 1989 to 1991 of Maharishi Heaven on Earth Development in New Delhi. [43] The prospectus says that the Maharishi Heaven on Earth Development Foundation (MAHEDFO) had long term liabilities of 1.6 million Euros in 2004. [43]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenneth Kaunda</span> President of Zambia from 1964 to 1991

Kenneth David Kaunda, also known as KK, was a Zambian politician who served as the first President of Zambia from 1964 to 1991. He was at the forefront of the struggle for independence from British rule. Dissatisfied with Harry Nkumbula's leadership of the Northern Rhodesian African National Congress, he broke away and founded the Zambian African National Congress, later becoming the head of the socialist United National Independence Party (UNIP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transcendental Meditation</span> Form of silent mantra meditation

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a form of silent mantra meditation advocated by the Transcendental Meditation movement. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi created the technique in India in the mid-1950s. Advocates of TM claim that the technique promotes a state of relaxed awareness, stress relief, and access to higher states of consciousness, as well as physiological benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maharishi Mahesh Yogi</span> Indian guru (1918–2008)

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was an Indian yoga guru known for developing and popularizing Transcendental Meditation (TM), and for being the leader and guru of a worldwide organization that has been characterized in multiple ways including as a new religious movement and as non-religious. He became known as Maharishi and Yogi as an adult.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maharishi International University</span>

Maharishi International University (MIU), formerly Maharishi University of Management, is a private university in Fairfield, Iowa. It was founded in 1973 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and features a "consciousness-based education" system that includes the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique. Its founding principles include the development of the full potential of the individual, fulfilling economic aspirations while maximizing proper use of the environment and bringing spiritual fulfillment and happiness to humanity.

Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health (MVAH) is a form of alternative medicine founded in the mid-1980s by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who developed the Transcendental Meditation technique (TM). Distinct from traditional ayurveda, it emphasizes the role of consciousness, and gives importance to positive emotions. Maharishi Ayur-Veda has been variously characterized as emerging from, and consistently reflecting, the Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy, representing the entirety of the ayurvedic tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joaquim Chissano</span> Mozambican politician

Joaquim Alberto Chissano is a politician who served as the second President of Mozambique, from 1986 to 2005. He is credited with transforming the war-torn country of Mozambique into one of the most successful African democracies. After his presidency, Chissano became an elder statesman, envoy and diplomat for both his home country and the United Nations. Chissano also served as Chairperson of the African Union from 2003 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hariprasad Chaurasia</span> Indian flautist

Hariprasad Chaurasia is an Indian music director and classical flautist, who plays the flute, in the Hindustani classical tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transcendental Meditation movement</span> Programs and organizations connected to Transcendental Meditation

The Transcendental Meditation movement (TM) are programs and organizations that promote the Transcendental Meditation technique founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India in the 1950s. The organization was estimated to have 900,000 participants in 1977, a million by the 1980s, and 5 million in more recent years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleck/Paterson House</span> House in Ottawa, Canada

Fleck/Paterson House is a historic building in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Built in 1903 as a private residence, it has since served a number of functions, and currently serves as the Algerian Embassy to Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brahmananda Saraswati</span> Indian gurudeva and monk (1871–1953)

Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, also known as Guru Dev, was the Shankaracharya of the Jyotir Math monastery in India. Born into a Saryupareen Brahmin family, he left home at the age of nine in search of a spiritual master. At age fourteen, he became a disciple of Svāmī Kṛṣṇānanda Sarasvatī. At the age of 34, he was initiated into the order of Sannyas and became the Śaṅkarācārya of Jyotir Math in 1941 at age 70. His disciples included Swami Shantanand Saraswati, Transcendental Meditation founder Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Svāmī Swarūpānanda Sarasvatī and Swami Karpatri. According to the partisans of Shantānand Saraswati, Brahmānanda made a will five months before his death in 1953, naming Shantānand as his successor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa</span> City in Iowa, United States

Maharishi Vedic City (MVC) is a city in Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 277 at the time of the 2020 census. The city was incorporated in 2001 as "Vedic City" but then officially changed its name to "Maharishi Vedic City" five months later. It was the first city to incorporate in Iowa since 1982. Maharishi Vedic City consists of approximately one square mile, located about four miles north of Fairfield, the home of Maharishi University of Management.

The Natural Law Party of Canada fielded several candidates in the 2000 federal election, none of whom were elected. Information about these candidates may be found here.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maharishi Vastu Architecture</span>

Maharishi Vastu Architecture (MVA) is a set of architectural and planning principles assembled by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi based on "ancient Sanskrit texts". Maharishi Vastu Architecture is also called "Maharishi Sthapatya Veda", "Fortune-Creating" buildings and homes, and "Maharishi Vedic architecture".

Christianity has been very much at the heart of religion in Zambia since the European colonial explorations into the interior of Africa in the mid 19th century. The area features heavily in the accounts of David Livingstone's journeys in Central Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Country of World Peace</span> Non-profit organization and micronation

The Global Country of World Peace (GCWP) is a non-profit organization that claims to promote Transcendental Meditation, education, and the construction of "buildings for peace" in the world's major cities. Inaugurated by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation, on October 7, 2000, the GCWP was originally conceived as "a country without borders for peace-loving people everywhere." It has issued a currency called the "Raam" and its leader is neurologist Tony Nader.

The History of Transcendental Meditation (TM) and the Transcendental Meditation movement originated with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the organization, and continues beyond his death (2008). In 1955, the Maharishi began publicly teaching a traditional meditation technique learned from his master Brahmananda Saraswati, which he called Transcendental Deep Meditation, and later renamed Transcendental Meditation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maharishi Peace Palace</span>

Maharishi Peace Palace is a type of pre-engineered building designed to house the educational and meditational activities of the Transcendental Meditation movement. Each Peace Palace is built using standardized plans compatible with Maharishi Sthapatya Veda design principles.

The Transcendental Meditation technique is the technique associated with the practice of Transcendental Meditation developed by the Indian spiritual figure Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The practice involves the use of a private mantra, and is practised for 20 minutes twice per day while sitting comfortably with one's eyes closed. Unlike some other approaches to meditation, TM instruction encourages students not to be alarmed by random thoughts which may arise, but to easily return to the mantra when one becomes aware of this.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Domes</span> Domes in Fairfield, Iowa

The Golden Domes, also called the Maharishi Golden Domes, are twin buildings on the campus of Maharishi International University (MIU) in Fairfield, Iowa, built in 1980 and 1981. According to MIU, the Golden Domes were the first structures built specifically for group meditation and the practice of the TM-Sidhi program. In 2001 and 2005 they received additional construction including landscaping, perimeter fencing and new entrances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beatles in Bangor</span> Stay by the Beatles in Bangor, Wales to attend a Transcendental Meditation seminar

In late August 1967, the English rock band the Beatles attended a seminar on Transcendental Meditation (TM) held by Indian teacher Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at a training college in Bangor in north-west Wales. The visit attracted international publicity for Transcendental Meditation and presented the 1960s youth movement with an alternative to psychedelic drugs as a means to attaining higher consciousness. The Beatles' endorsement of the technique followed the band's incorporation of Indian musical and philosophical influences in their work, and was initiated by George Harrison's disillusionment with Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco, which he visited in early August.

References

  1. ↑ Zorn, Eric (January 15, 1989). "Maharishi May Show Way To Heavenly Home". Chicago Tribune.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kay, Marsha (December 25, 1988). "Utopia? – Guru, backers have high hopes for heavenly housing concept". The San Diego Union. p. F.1.
  3. 1 2 3 4 WATERS, SHAUN (April 11, 1988). "Canadians urged to help build guru's heavenly housing". The Globe and Mail. p. A.13.
  4. ↑ FLAGG, MICHAEL (April 18, 1989). "New Age Comes Home as Maharishi Plans 'Cities of Immortals'". Los Angeles Times. p. 9.F.
  5. 1 2 Prentice, Michael (October 10, 2002). "63,000-square-foot 'peace palace' planned". The Ottawa Citizen. p. C.10.
  6. ↑ "Restoration work on bridge earns prize". The Ottawa Citizen. March 12, 1994. p. 12.
  7. 1 2 3 Lebowitz, Lawrence J. (April 1, 1991). "Vedaland's Still Just An Illusion Magic Theme Park Needs Time, Financing To Materialize". Orlando Sentinel.
  8. 1 2 Snyder, Jack (April 3, 1992). "Theme Park Isn't An Illusion For Orlando, Planner Says". Orlando Sentinel.
  9. ↑ "A dreamland by the QEW | Niagara Falls Review". Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  10. 1 2 3 BRIDGLAND, FRED (October 18, 1991). "A place that's come to bits With Zambia plunging deeper into debt, Kenneth Kaunda could well be at his last Commonwealth Conference". The Daily Telegraph. London (UK). p. 21.
  11. 1 2 VAN NIEKERK, PHILLIP (November 27, 1994). "Mozambique and yogic cult start project to create Utopia Phillip van Niekerk reports from Maputo on moves by the guru of the Beatles to run a quarter of the country". The Guardian. Manchester (UK).
  12. ↑ "Guru Disciples Plan 'City of Immortals'". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 28, 1990.
  13. 1 2 Becklund, Laurie (March 27, 1988). "Firm Sells Bits of Heaven on Earth at $500,000 a Bit". Los Angeles Times. p. 3.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 BIVINS, RALPH (October 26, 1988). "Guru inspires home plans here". Houston Chronicle. p. 1.
  15. 1 2 DAVIS, PAUL (May 20, 1989). "Maharishi envisions heaven on Earth in western R.I. Transcending the urban hassle". Providence Journal. Providence, R.I. p. A-01.
  16. 1 2 "30-Year Anniversary For the Maharishi". San Francisco Chronicle. August 17, 1989. p. A.12.
  17. 1 2 "Guru's Firm Scouting for 'Heavenly' Homes". Los Angeles Times. February 3, 1991. p. 4.
  18. ↑ Crowell, T. Michael (December 16, 1988). "Maharishi planning Heaven on Earth for San Diego". The Tribune. San Diego, Calif. p. F.1.
  19. ↑ PERRY, ANTHONY (December 12, 1988). "Guru of Managed Growth Promises Heaven on Earth". Los Angeles Times. p. 1.
  20. ↑ SEMENAK, SUSAN (May 6, 1989). "Guru envisions building 'city of immortals' near Montreal". The Gazette. Montreal, Que. p. A.3.
  21. 1 2 Barron, Sherri (February 8, 1990). "TM; Guru's followers plan 'paradise' village here". The Ottawa Citizen. p. C.1.
  22. ↑ Scrivener, Leslie (April 10, 1988). "Maharishi's firm plans to develop heaven on earth". Toronto Star. p. A.3.
  23. 1 2 MALMGREN, JEANNE (October 24, 1989). "Guru's company plans development in area". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla. p. 6.B.
  24. ↑ Browning, Graeme (April 15, 1989). "Housing Heaven: The Maharishi as Developer Indian Guru and His Followers Plan a 'City of Immortals' in Washington". The Washington Post. p. E.03.
  25. ↑ Lott, Tim (November 6, 1990). "HEAVEN WAITS IN HAYS COUNTY: Maharishi's development plans stalled". Austin American Statesman. p. A.1.
  26. 1 2 RIGA, ANDY (July 23, 1991). "No stress on way to Immortality; Community's building code includes peace of mind". The Gazette. Montreal, Que. p. A.5.
  27. 1 2 3 KAPICA, JACK (November 27, 1993). "VEDA LAND The New Incarnation of the Maharishi REJECTION BY THE VOTERS ONLY SERVES TO MAKE THE NATURAL LAW PARTY'S APPEALS MORE URGENT, ITS PLANS MORE GRANDIOSE, ITS CLAIMS MORE STRIDENT". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ont. p. D.3.
  28. ↑ "Indian Guru Plans to Build Theme Parks". San Francisco Chronicle. January 17, 1991. p. A.24.
  29. ↑ "The business plan". Colorado Springs Gazette - Telegraph. September 17, 1994. p. E.1.
  30. ↑ Richardson, Mark (October 12, 1993). "A leap of faith". The Ottawa Citizen. p. A.1.
  31. ↑ Phillips, Rhys (January 29, 1994). "Boastful mansions; by architect John W.H. Watts". The Ottawa Citizen. p. F.1.
  32. ↑ "Restoration work on bridge earns prize". The Ottawa Citizen. March 12, 1994. p. I.2.
  33. ↑ FARNSWORTH, CLYDE H. (January 14, 1996). "WHAT'S DOING IN; Ottawa". New York Times. p. 5.10.
  34. ↑ Corbett, Ron (October 24, 2002). "Taking peace to a higher ground: Followers of the Maharishi plan to build a massive 'peace palace' in Ottawa so devotees can meditate, pray, even practise a little yogic flying". The Ottawa Citizen. p. B.3.
  35. ↑ MANTHORPE, JONATHAN (September 25, 1991). "Zambia heads toward economic collapse Impending famine could spell defeat for Kaunda in October vote". The Gazette. Montreal, Que. p. C.10.
  36. 1 2 3 Schiller, Bill (October 30, 1991). "Zambian opposition seems unstoppable". Toronto Star. p. A.15.
  37. ↑ Warden, Mike (February 15, 1993). "Transcendental Meditation in Zambia". Spirituality in East and West. Dialogcentret (2).
  38. 1 2 3 Lyman, Rick (October 16, 1991). "HEAVEN'S STRANGE BEDFELLOWS; MEDITATION GURU AND ZAMBIAN STRONGMAN". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A.1.
  39. ↑ Bridgland, Fred (November 1, 1991). "International: Zambian voters set to send Kaunda packing". The Sunday Telegraph. London (UK). p. 13.
  40. ↑ Astill, James (September 22, 2001). "Meditation is path to peace, Mozambique leader says: Former Marxist guerrilla turned president spreads the word of the Beatles' guru to his ministers and the military". The Guardian. Manchester (UK). p. 19.
  41. ↑ BERESFORD, DAVID (October 28, 1994). "Guru to create heaven on earth". The Guardian. Manchester (UK).
  42. ↑ Abgrall, Jean-Marie (2000). Soul snatchers: the mechanics of cults. Algora Publishing. p.  48. ISBN   978-1-892941-04-6.
  43. 1 2 3 4 "Prospectus: Global Development Currency: RAAM" (Press release). Stichting Maharishi Global Financing Research. November 14, 2006.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.