Maharishi & Me

Seeking Enlightenment with The Beatles' Guru

By: Susan Shumsky

Narrated by: Laural Merlington

Susan Shumsky is a successful author in the new age/spirituality field, writing books on meditation, intuition, prayer, auras, chakras, and the like. But in the 1970s, she was one of only a handful of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s personal attendants and administrators, in India, Switzerland, and elsewhere. Following the teachings of Maharishi displaced Susan’s devotion to the hippie lifestyle, as she learned about meditation and grew spiritually self-aware.

Maharishi died in 2008 at the age of 90, but his influence continues throughout the Western world as a result of the spiritual movement he founded: TM (Transcendental Meditation). Other books have been written about the guru, but this is the only one to offer an insider’s view of life and learning in Rishikesh - including the time when the Beatles came to learn at the feet of the Maharishi - as well as behind-the-scene stories of other celebrity disciples. The author lived in the spiritual leader’s ashrams for 22 years, and served on his personal staff for seven of those years.

Susan shares: “Merely by being in his presence, we disciples entered an utterly timeless place and rapturous feeling, and, at the same time, realized the utter futility and insanity of the mundane world.”

Susan grew from a painfully shy teenage seeker into a spiritually aware teacher and author in her own right. Maharishi & Me is an honest and dynamic exposé about an imperfect person and his dysfunctional organization.

©2018 Susan Shumsky (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved

Brilliant reader!

This must the best reader I’ve ever come across! She managed to adapt herself to different characters / feelings without being annoying like for example Elle McPherson does in her disastrous performance in her autobiography.

Story itself bounced confusingly a bit forth and back. Also personally I was not so interested in the shift from TM to other stuff but in general ok story.

Beautifully composed

This is written from such a beautiful personal space. I adore the heartwarming yet real story. It’s so wonderful to get so see Maharishi from a such a wonderful perspective. One of the best books I’ve ever read! I’m a student at MIU and it’s very gratifying to see this side of the experience. Thank you Susan!

Excellent

So glad that I listened to this book. Fascinating and helps make sense of the movement begun by Maharishi. Very well written, kind and honest.

Surprising and informative!

I feel grateful that Susan shared her truth about these experiences as they have in them many lessons for us and future generations to help continue the work of inspiring world peace through inner peace.

A beautiful recap…

I have been a TM meditator for 41 years! I was tangential to the Movement and always searched for truth about it. I feel thoroughly fulfilled with my questions being answered. Ms. Shumsky writes with clarity and fair mindedness. I am encouraged now to follow my own path, relying solely on inner guidance, with confidence and joy, and I have already picked my next title of the author’s works!