Transcendental Meditation Goes Marquee

Meditation is being promoted by celebrities who sing its praises, but will the solemnity of the practice be cheapened by Hollywood garb? “Though it helps with publicity, the Hollywood community’s embrace of the technique could in theory cheapen T.M.’s message, in light of that particular group’s capricious spiritual tastes—Madonna and the kabbalah or Tom Cruise and Scientology. Indeed, at least one guest at the benefit had already moved on from T.M. ‘I tried it 10 years ago,’ said Rose McGowan, the actress. ‘It was fantastic, but now I do fight training. For me, personally, it’s the only thing that gets me out of my mind. I think even David Lynch would approve.'”