Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1914-2008)

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (Hindi: महर्षि महेश योगी) (born Mahesh Prasad Varma) developed the Transcendental Meditation technique, and was the leader or "guru" of the Transcendental Meditation movement, that has been defined as a new religious movement. Varma's given name was Mahesh, while maharishi and yogi are honorifics. Varma was known as "Maharishi Mahesh Yogi" beginning around the year 1960. His devotees referred to him as "his holiness." He became known as the "giggling guru" for his high-pitched laughter during television interviews.

In approximately 1939, the Maharishi became a disciple and assistant of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, who was the Shankaracharya (spiritual leader) of Jyotir Math, located in the Indian Himalayas from 1941 to 1953. The Maharishi credits Saraswati with inspiring his teachings. Beginning in 1955, the Maharishi began to introduce the Transcendental Meditation technique (also known as TM) and other related programs and initiatives to the world. His first global tour began in 1958.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s he achieved fame as the guru to the Beatles and other celebrities. In the mid-1970s he started the TM-Sidhi program, which offered practitioners the ability to levitate and to create world peace. His followers started the Natural Law Party in 1992, which ran campaigns in dozens of countries. He moved to Vlodrop, the Netherlands, in the same year. In 2000, he created the Global Country of World Peace, a country without borders, and appointed its leaders. In 2008, he announced his retirement from all administrative activities and went into mauna (spiritual silence) until his death three weeks later.

According to his movement, millions of people have learned the TM technique worldwide and tens of thousands have learned the more advanced techniques. His initiatives include schools and universities with campuses in several countries including India, the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. The Maharishi, his family and close associates created charitable organizations and for-profit businesses that include nearly 1,000 TM centers, schools, universities, clinics, health supplements and organic farms. Estimates of the value of the Maharishi's empire range from the multi-millions to the billions of dollars.

The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.