The Maharishi: Then (And Now)

File under: Satscams and The Siddhi of PR

Back in 1967, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was little more than a glorified rock groupie with delusions of grandeur:

The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has cabled his approval for a cross-country tour with the Beach Boys...

When a reporter questioned the Maharishi on his previous intention of withdrawing into silence this year, he said, "Have you seen Life [magazine] this week? They did a four-page color spread on me." [From the May 11, 1968, edition of Rolling Stone magazine.]

Ah, to be a (relatively) young self-aggrandizing con man again, rather than a decrepit old coot with a mind left hanging on just a few living brain cells.