We at RajaLeaks are very concerned about the staff who have worked for the TM organization over many decades. These often invisible people work behind the scenes to support the World Peace Assemblies, the Teacher Training Courses, the Ayurvedic clinics, the administration, and the educational institutions. Without them and their cheap labor the TM Movement would have to change their financial mode of operation. It’s a kind of “slave labor” that helps support a greater profit margin or keep expenses low. “Slave” is a harsh word, so perhaps “serfs” is a better expression since now the TM Movement has become a kingdom with Rajas.
The staff workers in the various TM organization locations are often not compensated for their work in a way that makes sense to their parents, their friends, and the rest of society. Although the staff programs are mostly volunteer programs for helping the non-profit organizations in the worldwide TM organization, yet there are many cases of staff workers living and working in the organization for decades on end. Sometimes the organizations they work for are real businesses. We looked into the issue and the usual complaints from the former staff workers are:
- They were not officially employed full-time by the organization and therefore no retirement taxes were deducted from their pay.
- Since their retirement taxes were not paid in, even after around 20 years of work they cannot count on a normal state retirement payment – nothing was paid in. They either get nothing or a bare minimum. You have to be registered and accounted for in the country’s tax system for retirement accounting to happen. The TM organization is very weak on this point.
- Their meager staff paycheck amounts amount to just a few hundred dollars a month.
- In some locations the TM organization gives the staff workers CREDIT towards Teacher Training Courses, TM-Sidhi Courses, or Ayurvedic products. I was faced with several staff members who claimed that after 1-2 years of working on staff, the rules changed and either the staff credits were revalued or were not cashable into those courses or products they were promised. Of course, there are many success stories of staff members going to TTC, but also stories of credits not being exchangeable into the courses or products they were promised. I have heard of one story where the staff members, several of them claimed that the staff credit accounting was erased (an Excel spreadsheet), and they were left with no staff credits at all. These are financial abuse cases that should not have been allowed and should have been investigated internally.
It happens that after 20-25 years of working on staff, the individual is not able to move back into society, because they don’t have a house or apartment anymore, or their previous professional knowledge is inadequate. Often it is extremely difficult for staff to re-integrate back into normal society. The shame of them having worked for a meditation organization with nothing to show at the end is often a reason they stay on staff, or not talk about how much they were paid.
These invisible people are stuck in their private hell, while the world has gone past them. Often they cannot establish families or live a normal life in any sense of the word. Of course, if someone works for the TM movement for just a few months or a year or two, then it seems ethical. The person is volunteering his time, and movement cannot pay him much. However, if this continues for many years, or even two-three decades then that staff person’s life and potential were destroyed because of their devotional attempt to gain enlightenment, or be close to the master, or because they wanted to help a good cause with all their heart. In the end, often these are sad stories, of old age, or health problems, which cannot be solved within the TM organization. They are shunned, released from work, or just simply leave in frustration.
These dedicated spiritual individuals have given many years of their live to an organization that used them and then throws them away. When these former staff members realize what has happened, it is too late.
The Rajas and their TM kingdom, have taken over the old TM organizations, yet they did not reform the staff programs, or even look into the matter. This is a real sin.
Starting today we will introduce music videos made by Raja Numan, and Raja von Grossoffenheit, and sung by Raja Numan’s sister.
These videos are about the plight of STAFF WORKERS in the Raja Kingdom. These are the invisible forgotten people, who have no retirement even after decades of work, who did not have a real salary to build up their lives. It’s the dark side of the TM Movement and the Raja Kingdom often ignored, even by people going to courses. We will also post a staff “de-application” form where they can tell us how much they worked and what they were paid. We would like to contact a lawyer and see what we can do.
So here it goes, the first music video entitled “The Plight of the staff workers”.
(Verse 1)
In the kingdom of Global Peace, they toil,
Staff workers forgotten, their dreams in turmoil,
Led by rajas, kings with their crowns,
Yet the plight of the workers goes unannounced.
(Pre-Chorus)
No retirement plans, their futures uncertain,
Unregistered with agencies, a cruel burden,
Ethics cast aside, a terrible fate,
Leaving staff workers in a desperate state.
(Chorus)
Oh, the plight of the staff workers, unheard cries,
Their dreams suppressed, under smoky skies,
In the shadows they labor, their worth denied,
In the Global Country, their pain can’t hide.
(Verse 2)
Years of dedication, they served with pride,
But retirement eludes, on the other side,
The rajas hold the power, their fate controlled,
Staff workers left stranded, their futures on hold.
(Pre-Chorus)
No support, no care, their hopes crumble,
Ethics shattered, in this cruel jumble,
Unregistered with agencies, a terrible plight,
Leaving staff workers in the darkest of nights.
(Chorus)
Oh, the plight of the staff workers, unheard cries,
Their dreams suppressed, under smoky skies,
In the shadows they labor, their worth denied,
In the Global Country, their pain can’t hide.
(Bridge)
But we won’t be silent, we won’t turn away,
Together we’ll rise, for justice we’ll pray,
Let their voices be heard, let the truth unfold,
For the staff workers, a future we’ll mold.
(Chorus)
Oh, the plight of the staff workers, unheard cries,
Their dreams suppressed, under smoky skies,
In the shadows they labor, their worth denied,
In the Global Country, their pain can’t hide.