TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION CENTER, INC.
Est. 1969
Enlightenment and inner peace in our communities
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His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Stanley Lewis, TMC, Inc. co-founder, is shown with Maharishi at TTC
(about 11 seconds into this clip.)
Legacy of TMC
Inc.
Transcendental Meditation® Centers, Inc., TMC, was the first teaching organization to proudly carry the name of His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's meditation technique for inner peace and enlightenment. (Please see endnote.*)
This is how it began . . .
In 1968, while on a residence course in Squaw Valley, CA with His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Stanley G. Lewis and Dr. Marty Hewlett, two young African-American meditators, were inspired to open a meditation center in South Central Los Angeles, California. Maharishi gave them his blessings and made the two of them Transcendental Meditation "Lecturers." Following the Squaw Valley residence course, they returned to Los Angeles and contacted all known black meditators to organize and give introductory lectures in private homes. Although not yet a teacher, it was Stan, as a TM Lecturer, that drew the people in and inspired them to be initiated. During the first months of operations, initiations were held with the help of guest initiators from two TM organizations, SIMS, the Student International Meditation Society, and SRM, the Spiritual Regeneration Movement. One of the first main guest initiators was well known jazz musician, Paul Horn.
This was the beginning of TMC, Inc.
First African-American TM Teachers
Two years later in 1970, while on the Teachers Training Course (TTC) in Reshikesh, India, with His Holiness, Stanley and his long time friend, Bob Kealing, became teachers of TM. It was at this time that they were given permission to have an official organization to spread TM to people of color and to call it Transcendental Meditation Center, Inc. There were three African-Americans who were the first to become TM teachers. Along with Stanley and Bob was a special woman, Paulene Saxton from Atlanta, Georgia. Paulene held a special place with Maharishi. At one of his lectures he singled her out to personally ask her to learn TM. Maharishi trusted and felt close to Paulene. She had the honor of traveling with him and preparing his meals. (Read “Reflections on Pauline” and see photo here.) It seems auspicious that the founders of TMC, Inc., along with a teacher so very close to Maharishi together became the first African-American Transcendental Meditation teachers.
Bob Kealing, TMC, Inc., co-founder, conducts a 3-day checking
at the first TMC location on Leimert Blvd. in Los Angeles
Kibre Dawit, TM teacher and Ethiopian TTC organizer, along with other course particpants.
Upon their return to the U.S., these new African-American teachers taught the TM technique in their Los Angeles and Atlanta communities. The new Transcendental Meditation Center was opened in a charming upstairs lecture hall on Leimert Boulevard and provided greater convenience to present introductory lectures for people of color in that community. In the new Los Angeles TMC, Stan and Bob also began training new meditators to present the TM introductory lectures. Each week the numbers of people beginning the TM technique increased at this center. The benefits received from practicing Transcendental Meditation prompted several of the new meditators to seek teacher training.
TMC Grows
As the word spread about the success of TMC in South Los Angeles, teachers and meditators from minority communities in Atlanta, Oakland, New York City, Detroit, Washington DC, Seattle, St Louis, San Diego, and in other cities formed new Transcendental Meditation Center(s), Inc. for the purpose of direct outreach to these communities. Drawn also to work with TMC were teachers of color from other organizations of the TM Movement. TMC provided them additional support for their minority outreach. Whether in rental halls or in private homes, it was in these TMC, Inc. locations that people of color were introduced to this technique for enlightenment and inner peace.
Inspired by their experiences, TMC, Inc. meditators began attending TTC in various places from Poland Springs, Maine, to Mallorca, Spain, to Switzerland. Wherever Maharishi was offering Teacher Training Courses there were usually meditators from two or more of the TMC, Inc. locations in attendance. Upon completion of their course, these new teachers most often returned to their home centers. Others branched out to take these teachings to untapped areas. These Transcendental Meditation Centers, Inc. served a vital role in enlivening the awareness of higher consciousness in our communities. As the numbers of meditators grew so too did the need for more teachers.
TTC in Ethiopia – TMC’s Greatest Achievement
The greatest achievement of the TMC, Inc. legacy occurred in 1973 when His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi granted permission for the TMC, Inc. to organize a Teachers Training Course (TTC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
This course was inspired by TM Teacher Dee Monroe (Quant). [Read more here.] She reminded Stanley of the interview with Maharishi in Ebony Magazine in May 1969 where he stated his desire to hold a course for “Negroes.” Together they called Ethiopian TM teacher Kibre Dawit and George Quant about the prospect of holding a course there. (George had recently arrived in Ethiopia after teaching TM in Ghana.) With Kibre's enthusiastic support, Stanley, Dee, along with James Vishwa Scott, drove to Santa Barbara to see Maharishi were he was a guest of Mike Love of the Beach Boys. (Read Dee's full account here.) Later Kibre and George spoke with Maharishi on the telephone, extending the invitation to hold the course in Ethiopia. He was favorable to the idea. At first, there was talk of holding a simple rounding course. After discussions back and forth with the National TM office it was decided that the course would, in fact, be a full Teachers Training Course. Once approved by Maharishi, Kibre made preparations in Ethiopia and Dee coordinated the organizing of the course from Los Angeles.
It was quite an achievement to organize the first Transcendental Meditation Teachers Training Course on the continent of Africa. Along with Ethiopian meditators there was, of course, a large contingent of meditators from several U.S. cities. Also in attendance were meditators representing China and Latin America who, after the course, went on to serve as leaders in the TM movement for their countries.
In Summary
So, it was that in the early days that people of color heard Maharishi’s message and started TM. Knowing the great benefit of Transcendental Meditation for their community, two of those meditators founded TMC, went to India and returned as teachers. They taught and inspired others who became teachers and that pattern continued. Eventually, the growth of TMC led to Maharishi making new teachers at the Teachers Training Course in Ethiopia. Perhaps the greatest benefit from Maharishi's course is that for the first time he made over 100 teachers at a Teachers Training Course held in Africa. This was the largest number of people of color made teachers of Transcendental Meditation at one time.
During our Teachers Retreat along with deep rounding and knowledge, we will honor our teacher, His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, celebrate the TMC Legacy and its Teachers and Governors, and we will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Ethiopian TTC. We look to encourage the building of a new legacy for these times. It is our hope to be inspired by and to encourage the vision and aspirations of those teachers who've continued to teach since the active TMC days, along with those newer teachers who began teaching since that time. Hearing about current teaching activities will be an inspiration to all present.
*It would be several years later that the national organization requested permission to use our incorporated name, TMC, for all of the teaching centers. Here on this website all references to TMC, TMC Inc., and the Transcendental Meditation Center(s) refers to our original organization, founded in 1969 and made official by Maharishi in 1970 to serve minority communities. Meeting the requirements of the State of California, Stanley G. Lewis was named President, Robert Kealing, Vice President and Charles Nunley was asked to serve as Treasurer.