Martin Zucker
Maharishi’s real destination on leaving India was the United States. An American had heard one of his talks and urged him to go to America, that his teaching would really catch on there. Maharishi felt also that if he could popularize meditation in the most progressive and creative country on earth, it would surely accelerate expansion of the practice elsewhere in the world. But getting to America — or anywhere, for that matter — was solely determined by the degree of support he could muster. His Indian followers paid his air passage to Burma. From there he made his way east slowly: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Hawaii. In each place he managed to interest some individuals who then spread the word. Lectures were arranged in homes, halls, temples, and Maharishi initiated those who were interested. But the numbers were small. Modest centers were established, perhaps in someone’s home, but frequently to stop functioning once Maharishi had left. Homes and temples were opened to him and money raised to see him off to his next destination. Occasionally, a well-to-do new meditator would pay for his plane ticket. It was the beginning of a long, hard road.
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