Regarding the article of Monday, September 29, “Seminar held on meditation”:
This letter is not meant to condemn or ridicule individual beliefs and spiritual practices, but rather to bring to readers’ attentions the warning signs that a spiritual group may be a destructive cult. Monday’s article on Maum Meditation reported on a few key statements by its founder, Woo Myoung that should inspire wariness.
Myoung promises that his meditative practice will “answer all questions in life” – even the most fundamentalist religious groups allow for mysteries beyond what its philosophy can illuminate.
In addition, the article reported that those interested in learning Maum Meditation must do so at one of the group’s centers. The group’s English-language website (http://eng.maum.org), describes the South Korean headquarters as a place where trainees “can practice continuously without being distracted by family, jobs or other obligations.” As for the branch centers, the website is loath to mention that attending the “levels” of meditation training will cost trainees $200 per month to start. The most obvious warning sign that a spiritual group may be manipulative is a demand for money for the most basic religious activities such as meditation and prayer.
I called the Newton center, and over the phone was only reluctantly told that I had even actually reached the Maum Meditation Center or that meditation training incurs a fee. Granted, some of this may be due to communication problems and the language barrier, but overall, the person with whom I spoke on the phone seemed very reluctant to answer any questions. She instead told me to visit the center “by yourself”, where all would be revealed.
A cult is not, as some would believe, simply an unpopular or esoteric belief system. Rather, it is an organization that uses religious and spiritual manipulation to control its members, taking their money, their freedom, and their inquiring minds. The university is well aware of the existence of groups that prey on well-intentioned and curious students – the International Churches of Christ (aka Boston Churches of Christ) has been banned from the campus. However, the Church of Scientology and its front groups (such as the Citizens Commission on Human Rights) are still very active on campus, as are the Jews for Jesus.
Whatever is the true nature of the Maum Meditation Center, I implore the Daily Free Press and its readers to be cautious about the nature of their reporting about religious ‘ spiritual groups on campus. This is not to suggest that you editorialize, but simply that you might benefit to provide some background information.
Sincerely, Anonymous CAS ’06
(I implore that you publish this letter anonymously, as I fear reprisal by some of the groups mentioned. If you wish to contact me, either to edit this letter or to inform me that it cannot be published, please e-mail or call me at 2-4331.)