This is an interview with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi published in Croatian weekly magazine „Nacional“

about his plausible moving to Istria, the seaside province of Croatia on the peninsula of the same
name. An article was published on September 2, 1998. It was done by Nacional’s journalist Mrs.
Visnja Gotal.

This PDF contains: an English translation first, then as second it follows the scan of the original
article, third is Croatian language transcription, and in final stage there are additional photos from
Google Earth and Google Maps inserted to document the story.

Translation and complete document edition done by Stjepan Španiček.

An original article from National and University Library of Croatia in Zagreb provided by Mladen
Juričev.

***

Ovo je intervju s Maharishi Mahesh Yogijem objavljen u hrvatskom tjedniku „Nacional“ o njegovom
vjerojatnom preseljenju u Istru, hrvatskoj primorskoj pokrajini smještenoj na poluotoku istog imena.
Članak je objavljen 2. rujna 1998. Intervju je obavila i članak napisala Nacionalova novinarka Višnja
Gotal.

PDF sadrži: prvo engleski prijevod, zatim na drugom mjestu u nizu je priložena snimka izvornog
članka, treća je hrvatska transkripcija cijelog članka, i naposljetku dodane su fotografije s Google
Earth-a i Google Maps-a da bi pojasnile cijelu priču.

Dokument priredio i na engleski preveo Stjepan Španiček.

Izvorni članak iz Nacionalne i sveučilišne knjižnice u Zagrebu dobavio Mladen Juričev.

1
 AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AN INDIAN GURU
WHO CONQUIRED THE WEST

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the World Movement for Transcendental

Meditation, one of the most famous Indian gurus on the West whose teaching
accepted millions of Europeans and Americans, among whom are many well-known
persons and celebrities, as for example Beatles, in exclusive talk to Nacional Magazine
confirmed that he will move his World Center for Transcendental Meditation from
Netherlands to Croatia, about what he says:

“It is true that soon I will move to Croatia: Croatia will become the new India and with
my disciples I will transform it to the light for all the World.

2
 *****

After it was announced in Croatian newspapers that the founder of the World Movement for the
Transcendental Meditation, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, will move to Istria, in Croatian media this news was without
much of thinking declared as journalist’s fraud lunched for the purpose of touristic promotion of Istria peninsula.
In spite of the fact that Jadranko Miklec, president of Croatian Center for Transcendental Meditation, had tried
to convince the public that this is absolutely certain thing, nobody believed him. Many had laughed on him by
calling him a “wishful thinker”. But, that Miklec was not only dreaming Maharishi in Istria, it was Maharishi
himself who confirmed that fact. Questioned by Nacional’s journalist if he will soon live in Istria, without any
thinking he replied with only one word: “Absolutely”. By this statement Indian Guru silenced all those who the
news about his moving to the Istria peninsula ironically compared with possibility that Bill Clinton move to
Afghanistan.

New India
When Nacional’s journalists escorted by Mei Kandna, the personal secretary of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, about
midnight entered his residence in dense forest of the De Meinweg National Park of the Netherlands, near
Vlodrop, where according to previous arrangement we were supposed to meet Maharishi, in order that he
confirm or deny the news about his move to Istria, we were surprised very much when three Indians entered
us into extremely luxurious room and sited us in front of two cameras and two TV screens. In the room with
monotonous golden colored furniture, what is broken with abundance of flower arrangements, it is placed
sound recording device and other most sophisticated equipment. We hardly recovered from initial surprise
when the light from reflectors hit into our faces, and just the moment later Maharishi’s figure appeared on the
screen and welcomed us nicely. It was obvious that conversation will be held by internal TV in Maharishi’s
residence. No any protest would have taken into account, because, as we were explained, we are the only
journalists whom Indian Guru had decided to receive. At the end we succeeded in our desire to be photographed
together with Maharishi.

Hence, the picture of the grizzled old man appeared on the screen; older then eighty, bald but with long
remaining hair, and with beard equal to the length of hair. Even though he entered the ninth decade, Maharishi
Mahesh Yogi doesn’t have any wrinkle on his face. Unusually smooth skin and the smile of child are the most
distinct features of his appearance. Mildness and softness of his radiance, even by the screen, for certain will
connive to all those who experience him as a visual interpretation of the “Good Ghost”. Maharishi was sitting
in the room equal to the one Nacional journalist were sitting as well, followed by temporary host Slovenian lady
Nadia, to whom before our arrival they explained she will work for two days on “Special Project”. “Special
Project” implied being accompanied to Nacional’s journalists and to help them to settle down in Vlodrop as
much as is possible. In nearby Valkenburg Nadia is a student of Vedic Science for two years already, and at the
same time she works there on the Clinic of Maharishi Center, but that was the first chance for her to meet with
Maharishi, at list by the screen.

Maharishi did not wait for us to make the first question, instead, he started to talk about Istria immediately:
“My aim in Istria is to establish peace and happiness through full recognition of the Natural Law. The power of
Natural Law will be given to the people from all over the World. Istria will become “THAT” place on Earth from
which peace and knowledge will radiate. That will be extremely comfortable and pleasant place on Earth”.
3
His every sentence is followed by cheerful laughter. His voice is very gentle, with excellent English of Indian
accent. On question why he decided to move to Istria, he replies: “Jadranko Miklec have told me that he had
found the place, Istria, which resembles to India very much. I realized that this could be a good place for
gathering of all the world along with joining to the Natural Law, in order that all people would be freed from
suffering and to live in peace. Just like India, in Europe one country should become focal point of total
knowledge. That will be Istria. There Vedic Knowledge will be gathered in order to be distributed among people
of all countries. Jadranko also told me that people in Croatia are simple, intelligent and devoted to make peace
in the World. Certainly I will move to Istria, because it is natural to be there. This is the place from where we
shall spread our knowledge and wisdom”.

Spiritual and material richness

After bursting of first news about moving to Istria, what would automatically mean getting the status of World
Center for Transcendental Meditation, not seldom accused Istrians for fraudulent propaganda for the purpose
of self-promotion. Because, thousands of Maharishi’s disciples are visiting such one center annually, so for the
place where it is located that means enormous economic benefits. Maharishi is not flurry about such polemics:
“There is a saying in Vedic Tradition which tells that discussion about some question is already the very
beginning of an answer. People need to scrutinize certain things and after that the right answer is crystalized
out as butter is crystalized from milk. Istria will be the homeland of the World Knowledge. Wisdom on the way
to cognize Natural Law, will be gathered there, and this total organizing power will prevail in Istria, who even
shares the same image, same look, as India. Economy has its own basis in creativity of the people as well. For
economic progress to be achieved, people should be peaceful and cordial to each other – to attract each other.
Economy depends about creativity, about yogic flying, about abilities to attract other people and other
countries, so that they will tend to come close to the country from which the Power of Natural Law is being
generated. At the same time, that country will become richer in creativity, and richer in economic point of view.
Istria will become place for celebrating peace and for better and more advanced lifestyle in any sense”.

From Maharishi Mahesh Yogi we could not get any answer how the new World Center in Istria will look like. On
such questions he simply pretended deaf. But life in Center in Istria, as we could realize, will be just as a replica
of life in Vlodrop, what means that luxury certainly wouldn’t be missing at all. Laymen who imagine yogis as
people prone to live ascetic life shall be disappointed just at the very entrance to the Center on the border of
Germany and Netherland.

In fact, every morning about nine o’clock, in dense forest of Dutch national park De Meinweg, the same scenery
is being repeated: about hundred people of different nationalities are coming out from the old building of ex
catholic monastery St. Ludwig almost at the same time, and casually start their long morning walk along the
forests pathways of Vlodrop. Along the wide alley which resembles the most luxurious southern estates from
the time before the Civil War they start their walk toward forest. Nothing would be strange in this if they
wouldn’t be dressed in most fashionable models of Armani suits, silky tunics white as snow, or Ralph Lauren’s
completes. Uniformed observer would think that in the monastery an assembly of world businessmen is taking
part, who mistakenly have taken wrong suitcases on their journey. These walkers are actually administrative
staff of the World Center for Transcendental Meditation and TM teachers, who are just in tune with teaching of
their host Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Maharishi, hence, what is very unusual for a spiritual teacher, consider that
one should pay equal attention to spiritual and material. On such a way, along with spiritual richness, he
promotes material richness as well, with all appropriate luxury.

Rejected Project
In Vlodrop Practical application of Maharishi teaching can be seen on every step. Everything is so luxuries,
especially Maharishi’s house built some two hundred meters away from the monastery. His delightful home in
Vlodrop Maharishi did build eight years ago, so then Vlodrop became the World Center for Transcendental
Meditation. Actually, from Vlodrop, all centers in the world are being administrated, and there are about one

4
hundred of them on all continents. Anyway, according to all available facts, for Maharishi’s moving to Istria big
portion of deserving should be given to Dutch authorities, who did not approve rearrangement of the World
Center in Vlodrop, mainly due to residents of National Park who heavily rejected an idea about destruction of
an old monastery, what original blueprint of reconstruction did assume. The chief architect of Vlodrop, Dr. Eike
Hartmann, thought out the complete complex, where instead of old monastery, the central place would be
taken by a new building 250 meters long, for the purpose of administration, and many bungalows for dwelling
and meditation would be built up around. Only by seeing the Project it is obvious they are talking about very
luxuries objects. On the outskirts of the property sport terrains with swimming pools are planned. Demolition
of the monastery architects did not plane only due to extreme non efficiency – ceilings are almost 5 meters high
and walls are so thick that it is almost impossible to warm up the building, but due to the desire that everything
is in tune with Vedic Architecture. According to Vedic Architecture, the healthiest way of living is if we live in
wooden houses, and an entrance is oriented toward east, so that total coherence with natural law of Sun circling
around Earth is achieved.

Taking in account the fact about Maharishi moving, planned Center instead in Vlodrop will be built in Istria. Due
to different terrain and different landscape configuration, the center will not be completely identical, but the
basic architecture will be the same.

Well-guarded richness
It is still not known if future Maharishi’s personal residence in Istria will be identical with the one in Netherlands,
which is a perfect example of supreme architectural skill. The house which resembles rich haciendas is
completely made out of timber wood, and with no use of almost a single one nail. Timber beams are joined
together without metal bolts, and complete façade between wooden arches are covered in glass. In front of the
entrance to the residence there is a wide approaching area, by which, for the purpose of nonpolluting, only
electric cars can reach entrance door. Big area in front of building is dominated by a vast English lawn. When
one Dutch journalist mentioned to Mr. Hartmann this enormous luxury, with certain doses of criticism of course,
he replied that Maharishi consider there is no reason for all available technology present in the West today not
to be part of the daily life for the people in the East. Along with such approach, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi became
the first Indian teacher-guru who approves luxury. Furthermore, in his teaching he is explicitly advocating it.
When Nacional’s journalists had asked him about conversation along with internal cameras, Maharishi
answered that “he only uses technology of today which is in use all around the world”.

Though the monastery is only two hundred meters away from the residence, between them there are summer
house and empty swimming pool. For all visitors and for all dwellers of the Centre, the house seems like being
light years away from ordinary people. Hence, the property is divided by high wire fence, so to approach to the
entrance way of Maharishi’s residence, one should pass the iron-gate where guards are on duty day and night.
“The Guard House” is equipped with most sophisticated security equipment and cameras, and nobody without
proper escort given by the host himself cannot pass the gate. Though such a security for one Indian guru seems
exaggerated, when we see the size of empire through world “affiliates” of the Movement for the Transcendental
Meditation, it becomes very clear that it is not effusive at all. It is the fact that all properties of World Movement
for Transcendental Meditation are equally richly equipped. According to pictures hanging on walls of the
monastery building, Maharishi’s followers are gathering mainly in buildings resembling to residences of world
richest businessmen. Nacional’s journalists have been especially marveled by the Centre in one English province,
which is placed in the English medieval castle. By considering an image of other “affiliates”, it is obvious we can
expect that World Center in Istria, where Maharishi himself will be dwelling, could be a masterpiece of
contemporary architecture followed by appropriate luxury.

Our prejudices about yogis were broken again when we met Antonio from Spain, whose domain is housing, who
entered us into “room” we are supposed to stay during our stay in Vlodrop. Our expectations that the sleeping
room will be more like monk’s cell, proved to be very naive. In fact, we got luxurious apartment of such an
5
interior style that even world most prestigious hotels would be envy. From the celling of three rooms apartment
crystal lusters are hanging, stylish chairs are freshly redressed, and on windows there are curtains made of heavy
velvet. The rest of the furniture is dressed in cheerful flowers design, same as wallpapers. The bathroom is
equal, if not even bigger then sleeping room. Visual impression is “disturbed” only by shoes left in front of the
apartment, due to some Indian tradition unknown to us, but the reason of such practice is very prosaic: there
are very tick carpets in pastel nuances on the floor of all rooms, so it would be a pity to make a mess.

Rivers of money
By estimating the real value of the Center in Vlodrop, we come to the amount equal to several million dollars,
and when we add an estimation for other Centers in the world, it is very clear that World Center for
Transcendental Meditation deals with enormous richness. Maharishi doesn’t want to reveal who finances that,
as well as he doesn’t want to say who will pay for construction of World Center in Istria. At the very mention of
money he replays casually: “Money is not the problem. Each river is filling the ocean wherever it comes from. If
people can have peace, good health and prosperity, money will not be a problem. It is coming from every side.
We are searching the place of peace and total cognition. In Istria the power of Natural Law will be given to the
people from all over the world. People who want give their contributions for peace and happiness, they will
certainly do that.

It is Dr. Bevan Morris who is involved in finances managing of the World Movement. Mr. Morris is with Maharishi
for decades and he is highly entrusted, so when money is in a question, he is completely free. We discovered
that most of funding comes from private donations, and some of Maharishi’s disciples took over the
construction of some world centers as their own burden. On such a way, recently, in USA two brothers covered
construction of one center with ten million dollars. When we asked one of them why he did that, he replied he
would never earn such amount of money if not being in touch with Maharishi’s teaching by which he mastered
peace and control from the spiritual and material point of view. It is well known fact that many celebrities have
been gathering around Maharishi, and there were Beatles as the most prominent devotees of the
Transcendental Meditation. Fellows from Liverpool have been so inspired by Maharishi so that they followed
him when he in sixties decided to move from USA to India. Hence, Indian teacher lived in America for some
time, where he had moved for the purpose of making Transcendental Meditation available for western world,
though it was previously used by Indians only. Along with donations of rich people and celebrities who are
Maharishi’s followers, these centers are today partially financed by school fees as well, by designing houses in
accord with Vedic Architecture, and by curing patients in clinics of the World Movement for Transcendental
Meditation.

Vedic Architecture
About exact date of Maharishi’s moving to Istria, we can only speculate at the moment. First of all, there are
many very concrete questions to be discussed with Istrian County. One of such points is the exact location of
the future World Center. The land where Maharishi is planning to move his World Center in near future is in
eastern Istria, to be more precise, little south from Rabac in the bay of Rasa (Rasha). Maharishi decided this way
because of the fact that at that spot mountains are on the north side, what reminds him on India, and the sea
is on east side what is in perfect tune with tradition of building according to Vedic Architecture.

It was about 1 o’clock after midnight when Maharishi ended our conversation. As Mr. Mei Kandn have explained
to us, Maharishi was supposed to do a lot of other jobs. While he was closing the session he’s just mentioned:
“Istria is a beautiful country. At that spot the quest for total knowing and total organizing power of Natural Law
for all the World will take place. There are many beautiful places all over the World, but Istria will be “THAT “
small country replica of India from where the cognition of Natural Law will be spreading out. It will become the
place of pilgrimage for all people of the World who will try to find ideal way of living there. Our job will be to
transform the Istria into the Light of the World.”

6
2. rujna 1998.
NACIONAL
VIŠNJA GOTAL razgovarala je s indijskim
guruom u njegovoj rezidenciji i snimila ga

EKSKLUZIVNI INTERVJU S INDIJSKIM

GURUOM KOJI JE OSVOJIO ZAPAD

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, osnivač Svjetskog pokreta za transcendentalnu meditaciju, jedan od najpoznatijih
Indijskih gurua na Zapadu, čije su učenje prihvatili milijuni Evropljana i Amerikanaca, među kojima mnoge
poznate i slavne osobe, kao primjerice Beatlesi, u ekskluzivnom razgovoru za Nacional potvrdio je da će svoj
Svjetski centar za transcendentalnu meditaciju preseliti iz Nizozemske u Hrvatsku, o čemu kaže:

ISTINA JE DA ĆU USKORO PRESELITI U ISTRU: Ona će postati nova Indija koju ću sa svojim učenicima pretvoriti
u svjetlo cijeloga svijeta

Nakon što je u hrvatskim novinama objavljeno da će se osnivač Svjetskog pokreta za transcendentalnu

meditaciju, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi preseliti u Istru, vijest je u većini hrvatskih medija bez mnogo premišljanja
proglašena novinarskom patkom lansiranom u cilju turističke promidžbe istarskog poluotoka. Iako je Jadranko
Miklec, predsjednik Hrvatskog centra za transcendentalnu meditaciju pokušavao uvjeriti javnost da je riječ o
sigurnoj stvari, nitko mu nije vjerovao. Mnogi su mu se podsmjehivali nazivajući ga „sanjarom bez pokrića“. No,
da Miklec nije samo sanjao Maharishija u Istri, za Nacional je potvrdio Maharishi osobno. Na pitanje
Nacionalovih novinara hoće li uskoro živjeti u Istri, bez razmišljanja odgovorio je samo jednom riječju:
„Apsolutno“. Time je ovaj indijski guru ušutkao sve one koji su vijest o njegovom preseljenju na istarski poluotok
ironično uspoređivali s vjerojatnošću da se Bill Clinton preseli u Afganistan.

Nova Indija
Kada su novinari Nacionala u pratnji Mei Kandna, osobnog sekretara Maharishi Mahesh Yogija, oko ponoći
ušli u njegovu rezidenciju u gustoj šumi nizozemskog nacionalnog parka De Meinweg u Vlodropu gdje smo se,
prema ranijem dogovoru, trebali susresti s Maharishijem kako bi on potvrdio ili demantirao vijest o svom
preseljenju u Istru, prilično smo se iznenadili kada su nas trojica Indijaca uvela u vrlo raskošnu sobu i posjeli nas
ispred dvije kamere i dva televizijska ekrana. U sobu u kojoj jednoličnost zlatne boje namještaja razbija mnoštvo
cvjetnih aranžmana smješten je i tonski pult s najsuvremenijom opremom. Još se nismo stigli oporaviti od
iznenađenja kad nas je zabljesnulo svjetlo reflektora, a potom se na ekranu pojavio Maharishijev lik koji nam je
poželio dobrodošlicu. Bilo je očito da će se razgovor voditi isključivo putem internih televizijskih ekrana u
Maharishijevoj rezidenciji. Međutim, prosvjedi nisu dolazili u obzir jer smo navodno i tako, prema riječima osoba
iz Maharishijeve pratnje, jedini novinari koje je indijski guru odlučio primiti. Na karaju smo ipak uspjeli ishoditi
fotografiranje s Maharishijem.
Na ekranu se, dakle, pojavila slika sijedoga starca, starijeg od 80 godina, s dugom kosom do polovice brade i
bradom jednakom dužini kose. Iako je ušao u deveto desetljeće života, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi na licu nema niti
jednu boru. Neobično glatka koža i dječji osmjeh najupečatljivije su karakteristike njegove pojave. Blagost kojom
zrači, čak i preko ekrana, sigurno ide na ruku onima koji ga doživljavaju kao vizualnu interpretaciju „Dobroga
duha“. Maharishi je sjedio u sobi jednakoj onoj u kojoj su sjedili i Nacionalovi novinari u pratnji privremen

1
domaćice Slovenke Nadie, kojoj su prije našeg dolaska objasnili da će dva dana raditi na „specijalnom projektu“.
„Specijalni projekt“ je podrazumijevao druženje s Nacionalovim novinarima i pomoć da se što bolje snađemo u
Vlodropu. Nadia je već dvije godine student vedskih znanosti u obližnjem Valkenburgu, gdje ujedno i radi na
klinici Maharishijevog centra, ali ovo je bila prva prigoda da se, barem preko tv ekrana, susretne s Maharishijem.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi nije čekao da mu postavimo prvo pitanje već je odmah počeo govoriti o Istri: „U Istri
mi je cilj razviti mir i sreću kroz potpunu spoznaju Prirodnog zakona. Ondje će snaga Prirodnog zakona biti dana
mnogim ljudima sa svih strana svijeta. Istra će postati „TO“ mjesto na zemlji iz kojega će zračiti mir i spoznaja.
Bit će to krajnje udoban kraj na zemlji“.
Maharishi svaku svoju rečenicu poprati veselim smijehom. Govori vrlo blagim glasom, odličnim engleskim s
indijskim naglaskom. Na pitanje zašto se odlučio preseliti u Istru, odgovara: „Jadranko Miklec mi je rekao da je
našao mjesto, Istru, koje veoma nalikuje Indiji. Shvatio sam da bi to moglo biti dobro mjesto za okupljanje
cijeloga svijeta koji bi se pridružio Prirodnom zakonu kako bi svi ljudi bili oslobođeni od patnji i živjeli u miru.
Poput Indije, i u Evropi mora jedna zemlja postati žarište cjelokupnog znanja. To će biti Istra. Ondje će se prikupiti
vedsko znanje i biti raspodijeljeno među ljude svih zemalja. Jadranko mi je također rekao da su ljudi u Hrvatskoj
jednostavni, inteligentni i da su posvećeni miru na zemlji. Sigurno ću se preseliti u Istru jer je prirodno da budem
tamo. To je mjesto odakle ćemo širiti našu spoznaju i vedsku mudrost“.

Duhovno i materijalno bogatstvo

Nakon prve vijesti o Maharishijevu preseljenju u Istru čime bi, dakle, Istra automatski stekla status Svjetskog
centra transcendentalne meditacije, nisu bili rijetki oni koji su optužili Istriane da se služe lažnom propagandom
u cilju vlastite promidžbe. Jer, u takav jedan centar godišnje dolazi na tisuće Maharishijevih učenika, što mjestu
u kojemu se nalazi donosi i veliku gospodarsku korist. Maharishija ne uzrujavaju takve polemike: „Postoji
uzrečica u vedskoj tradiciji koja kaže da je diskutiranje o nekom pitanju ujedno i početak odgovora. Ljudima je
potrebno da preispitaju neke stvari nakon čega će se pravilan odgovor iskristalizirati poput maslaca iz mlijeka.
Istra će biti domovina svjetskog znanja. U Istri će se skupiti mudrost na putu prema spoznaji prirodnog zakona i
ta će cjelokupna sposobnost organiziranja prevladati u Istri, koja čak i izgledom sliči Indiji. I gospodarstvo ima
svoju bazu u kreativnosti ljudi. Da bi se postigao ekonomski napredak, ljudi moraju biti miroljubivi i srdačni jedni
prema drugima – privlačiti se. Ekonomija zavisi o kreativnosti, o joginom letu, o sposobnosti da se privuku drugi
ljudi i druge zemlje koje će sve težiti da se približe zemlji iz koje se generira snaga Prirodnog zakona. Ta zemlja
će postajati sve bogatijom u svojoj kreativnosti i automatski bogatija u ekonomskom pogledu. Istra će postati
mjesto proslave mira i boljeg života u svakom pogledu“.
Od Maharishi Mahesh Yogija nismo uspjeli doznati kako će izgledati novi Svjetski centar u Istri. On se na takva
pitanja jednostavno oglušuje. No, život u centru u Istri bit će, kako doznajemo, preslika života u Vlodropu, što
ujedno znači da sigurno neće manjkati raskoši. Laici koji jogine zamišljaju kao ljude sklone asketizmu razočarat
će se već na samom ulazu u centar na njemačko-nizozemskoj granici.
Naime, svakoga se jutra oko devet sati u gustoj šumi nizozemskog nacionalnog parka De Meinweg u Vlodropu
ponavlja jednak prizor: iz starog zdanja bivšeg katoličkog samostana Sv. Ludovika gotovo istodobno izađe
stotinjak ljudi različitih nacionalnosti koji se ležernim korakom upućuju na duge jutarnje šetnje šumskim stazama
Vlodropa. Širokom alejom koja podsjeća na najraskošnije južnjačke posjede iz vremena prije američkog
građanskog rata kreću prema šumi. U svemu tome ne bi bilo ništa čudno da šetači nisu odjeveni u najnovije
modele Armanijevih odijela, svilene tunike bijele kao snijeg ili Ralph Laurenove sportske komplete. Neupućeni
promatrač pomislio bi da se u samostanu održava neki skup svjetskih biznismena koji su na put ponijeli pogrešne
kovčege s odjećom. No šetači su zapravo osoblje Svjetskog centra za transcendentalnu meditaciju i učitelji TM-
a koji se samo ponašaju u skladu s učenjem svojega domaćina Maharishi Mahesh Yogija. Maharishi, naime, što
je vrlo neuobičajeno za duhovnog učitelja, smatra da čovjek jednaku pažnju treba posvetiti i duhovnom i
materijalnom. Tako uz stjecanje duhovnog potiče i stjecanje materijalnog bogatstva sa svim pripadajućim
luksuzom.

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 Odbijeni projekt
Praktična primjena Maharishijevog učenja u Vlodropu se vidi na svakom koraku. Sve je vrlo raskošno, osobito
Maharishijeva kuća koja je sagrađena na dvjestotinjak metara udaljenosti od samostana. Svoj raskošni dom u
Vlodropu Maharishi je sagradio prije osam godina pa je tada i Vlodrop postao Svjetskim centrom
transcendentalne meditacije. Iz Vlodropa se zapravo upravlja svim centrima u svijetu, kojih je danas oko
stotinjak na svim kontinentima.
Ipak, prema svemu sudeći, za Maharishijevo preseljenje u Istru dobrim su dijelom zaslužne i nizozemske vlasti
koje nisu odobrile projekt preuređenja Svjetskog centra u Vlodropu, i to prije svega zbog stanovnika nacionalnog
parka koji su se oštro oduprli rušenju starog samostana, što je predviđao nacrt rekonstrukcije. Glavni
Maharishijev arhitekt za Vlodrop, dr. Eike Hartmann, osmislio je kompleks u kojemu bi, umjesto samostana,
centralno mjesto zauzimala zgrada duga 250 metara, namijenjena administraciji, a oko nje bi bilo sagrađeno niz
bungalova za meditaciju i stanovanje. Već se na projektu vidi da bi bila riječ o raskošnim objektima. Na rubovima
imanja predviđeni su sportski centri s bazenima. Na rušenje samostana arhitekti se nisu odlučili samo zbog
njegove apsolutne neekonomičnosti – stropovi su visoki više od pet metara a zidovi toliko debeli da je zgradu
gotovo nemoguće zagrijati – nego i zbog želje da sve bude izgrađeno u skladu s Veda arhitekturom. Prema njoj
je najzdravije živjeti u drvenim kućama, čiji ulaz mora biti okrenut prema istoku kako bi se postigao cjeloviti sklad
s prirodnim zakonom kruženja Sunca oko Zemlje.
S obzirom na Maharishijevo preseljenje, zamišljeni će se centar umjesto u Vlodropu graditi u Istri. Vjerojatno
zbog drukčijeg terena i konfiguracije zemljišta neće biti posve jednak, ali osnovna arhitektura će ostati ista.

Dobro čuvano bogatstvo

Još se uvijek ne zna hoće li buduća osobna Maharishijeva rezidencija u Istri biti jednaka onoj u Nizozemskoj,
koja je savršeni primjer vrhunskog arhitektonskog umijeća. Kuća koja podsjeća na bogate hacijende u cijelosti
je izgrađena od drveta i to gotovo bez ijednog upotrijebljenog čavla. Drvene grede spajane su bez metalnih
učvršćivača, a cijelo je pročelje između drvenih lukova obloženo staklom. Ispred ulaza u rezidenciju široki je
prilaz kojim do ulaznih vratiju mogu doći samo električni automobili da se ne bi zagađivala okolina. Čistinom
ispred kuće dominira golemi engleski travnjak. Kad je jedan nizozemski novinar spočitnuo Hartmannu iznimni
luksuz posjeda, on mu je odgovorio da Maharishi smatra kako nema razloga da sva tehnologija koja se već
odavno primjenjuje na Zapadu ne bude i dio istočnjačke svakodnevnice. Takvim je pristupom Maharishi Mahesh
Yogi postao prvi indijski učitelj koji odobrava luksuz. Štoviše, on ga u svom učenju i izrazito i zagovara. I na pitanje
Nacionalovih novinara o razlogu razgovora putem internih kamera, Maharishi je odgovorio da on „samo koristi
današnju tehnologiju kojom svijet raspolaže“.
Iako je samostan od rezidencije udaljen samo dvjestotinjak metara – između njih se nalazi sjenica i prazan
bazen – posjetiteljima i stanovnicima centra kuća izgleda kao da je svjetlosnim miljama udaljena od običnih
smrtnika. Naime, imanje dijeli visoka žičana ograda a da bi se uopće stiglo do prilaznog puta Maharishijeve
rezidencije, potrebno je proći željeznu ogradu na kojoj danonoćno stoje stražari. „Stražarska kućica“ opremljena
je najsuvremenijim sigurnosnim uređajima i kamerama, a kroz vrata ne može proći nitko bez pratnje koju mu
je namijenio domaćin. Iako će se ovakvo osiguranje jednog indijskog učitelja vjerojatno učiniti pretjeranim, kad
se uvidi veličina carstva „svjetskih“ podružnica pokreta za transcendentalnu meditaciju, postane vam brzo jasno
da ono nije suvišno. Naime, sva imanja Svjetskog pokreta za transcendentalnu meditaciju jednako su luksuzna i
bogato opremljena. Prema slikama koje vise na zidovima samostanske zgrade, Maharishijevi sljedbenici
uglavnom se okupljaju u zgradama koje nalikuju rezidencijama najbogatijih svjetskih biznismena. Nacionalove
novinare osobito je zadivio centar u jednoj engleskoj pokrajini, koji je smješten u srednjovjekovnom engleskom
dvorcu. S obzirom na izgled ostalih „podružnica“, valja očekivati da će Svjetski centar u Istri, gdje će stanovati i
sam Maharishi, biti remek djelo suvremene arhitekture i primjerenog joj luksuza.
S predrasudama o joginima kao asketima ponovno smo se suočili u trenutku kada nas je Španjolac Antonio,
koji brine o domarskim poslovima u centru, odveo u sobu koja nam je bila namijenjena tijekom boravka u
Vlodropu. Naša očekivanja da će prenoćište izgledati kao monaška ćelija u samostanima pokazala su se
naivnima. Naime, dobili smo luksuzni apartman na čijoj bi unutarnjoj dekoraciji pozavidjeli i najprestižniji svjetski
hoteli. Sa stropa trosobnog apartmana vise kristalni lusteri, stilske su stolice svježe presvučene, a na prozorima
3
su zastori od teškoga baršuna. Ostali je namještaj presvučen veselim dezenima, jednako kao i zidni tapeti.
Kupaonica je jednaka, ako ne i veća od spavaće sobe. Vizualni dojam „kvare“ jedino cipele ostavljene ispred
apartmana. Iako smo pretpostavljali da se cipele ostavljaju pred vratima zbog neke, nama nepoznate, indijske
tradicije, razlog ovog običaja vrlo je prozaičan: na podovima svih soba nalaze se vrlo debeli sagovi u pastelnim
nijansama pa bi bilo šteta da se zaprljaju.

Rijeke novca
Vrijednost centra u Vlodropu može se procijeniti na milijune dolara, a kad se tome pridoda i vrijednost ostalih
centara diljem svijeta, jasno je da Svjetski pokret za transcendentalnu meditaciju raspolaže golemim
bogatstvom. Maharishi ne želi otkriti tko to financira, kao niti tko će platiti izgradnju Svjetskog centra u Istri. Na
sam spomen novca ležerno odgovara: „Novac nije problem. Svaka rijeka koja dolazi bilo odakle puni ocean. Ako
ljudi mogu imati mir, dobro zdravlje i napredak, novac neće biti problem. On dolazi sa svih strana. Mi tražimo
mjesto mira i potpune spoznaje. U Istri će snaga Prirodnog zakona biti dana mnogim ljudima sa svih strana
svijeta. Ljudi koji žele dati svoje priloge za mir i sreću, to će i učiniti.“
Za financije se u Svjetskom pokretu brine dr. Bevan Morris. Morris je uz Maharishija već desetljećima i uživa
njegovo osobito povjerenje, pa ima potpuno odriješene ruke kad je novac u pitanju. Uspjeli smo doznati da
najveći dio novca pristiže iz privatnih donacija, a neki Maharishijevi učenici su na sebe preuzeli i kompletnu
izgradnju nekih svjetskih centara. Tako su nedavno izgradnju jednog centra u Americi financirala dvojica braće
sa 10 milijuna dolara. Kad su jednoga od njih upitali zašto je to učinio, odgovorio je da nikada ne bi zaradio toliki
novac da nije bilo Maharishijeva učenja kojim je stekao mir i kontrolu u duhovnom i materijalnom pogledu.
Poznato je da se oko Maharishija okupljaju i brojne slavne osobe, ali svakako su najpoznatiji poklonici
transcendentalne meditacije bili Beatlesi. Momci iz Liverpoola toliko su bili opijeni Maharishijem da su ga pratili
kad se iz Amerike šezdesetih godina odlučio vratiti u Indiju. Naime, indijski učitelj jedno je vrijeme živio u Americi
kamo je otišao da bi tehniku transcendentalne meditacije, koju su do tada prakticirali samo Indijci, približio i
zapadnom svijetu. Uz donacije bogatih i slavnih Maharishijevih učenika, centri se danas djelomično financiraju i
od studentskih školarina, projektiranja kuća po vedskoj arhitekturi i liječenja pacijenata u klinikama Svjetskog
pokreta za transcendentalnu meditaciju.

Vedska arhitektura
O točnom datumu Maharishijeva preseljenja u Istru za sada možemo samo nagađati. Prvo je, naime, potrebno
dogovoriti niz konkretnih pitanja s Istarskom županijom. Jedno od njih je i točna lokacija budućeg Svjetskog
centra. Zemljište na koje ga Maharishi planira preseliti u bliskoj budućnosti nalazi se u istočnoj Istri, točnije nešto
južnije od Rapca u zaljevu Raše. Takvu je odluku Maharishi donio i zbog činjenice da su na tom mjestu planine
na sjeveru, što ga podsjeća na Indiju, a more se nalazi na istoku što odgovara tradiciji gradnje po vedskoj
arhitekturi.
Oko jedan sat poslije ponoći Maharishi Mahesh Yogi prekinuo je razgovor. Morao je, kako nam je objasnio
Mei Kandn, obaviti još cijeli niz poslova. Za kraj je samo rekao: „Istra je krasna zemlja. Tu će se odigrati potraga
za totalnim saznanjem i potpunom organizacijom silom Prirodnog zakona za cijeli svijet. Ima mnogo lijepih
mjesta na svijetu, ali će Istra postati „TA“ mala zemlja, replika Indije iz koje će se širiti spoznaja Prirodnog zakona.
To će postati mjesto hodočašća za sve ljude svijeta koji će ondje pokušati pronaći idealan način života. Naš će
posao biti da Istru pretvorimo u svjetlo svijeta.“

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