Maharishi Heaven on Earth Development

Maharishi Heaven on Earth Development Corp. was founded in Malibu, California, in 1988 by money manager Monty Guild, who initially financed the organization and later donated his shares to Maharishi University of Management. Its creation reflected the Transcendental Meditation movement’s effort to extend its principles beyond meditation instruction into architecture, town planning, education, health care, agriculture, and economic development. MHOED’s central North American concept was a system of 50 “Maharishi Cities of Immortals.” The proposed settlements would contain approximately 100 to 200 homes, generally on one-acre or larger lots, alongside common parks, gardens, water features, a Maharishi elementary school, an Ayurvedic health clinic, and a festival hall. Conventional cars would remain at the edge of the community, while electric carts and bicycles would be used internally. Residential structures would follow Maharishi Sthapatya Veda specifications, including prescribed orientation, natural ventilation, and non-toxic construction materials. The company argued that physical surroundings could support healthier and more orderly daily behavior. MHOED proposed a business model in which local developers would provide much of the capital and construction capacity. The organization would supply planning advice, architectural guidance, marketing assistance, and sales support in return for fees tied to construction and retail costs, together with sales commissions. It planned a 29-city promotional tour to recruit partners. Announced target markets included Malibu, Houston, Austin, Toronto, Hartford, and Denver, and the company later said it had contracts or near-completed negotiations in a number of cities. Some proposals included subsidized housing, while other presentations positioned the communities as premium developments whose homes could cost more than comparable conventional properties. The program encountered financing and execution problems. A proposed Austin-area prototype remained stalled after roughly two and a half years. Construction did begin in June 1991 at Mount Shefford near Bromont, Quebec, where 30 of 100 lots were reportedly sold. The project nevertheless did not lead to the broad network originally envisioned. Critics questioned the low-density suburban model, the cost, and the perceived exclusivity and secrecy of gated communities. The movement’s stated global ambition was exceptionally large: the cost of reconstructing the entire world was estimated at $100 trillion, while some statements contemplated at least 100 communities worldwide. MHOED expanded into related real-estate activities during the 1990s, including the purchase of more than a dozen older hotels in American city centers. It also established Maharishi Veda Land International as a wholly owned subsidiary to promote theme parks. The parks were associated with magician Doug Henning, who served as a director and led the Canadian operation. MHOED reportedly supplied $4 million in seed funding at 11% interest. The subsidiary sought hundreds of millions of dollars in additional equity, debt, and sponsorship commitments, and properties were acquired or considered in Orlando and Niagara Falls. The parks were conceived as complementary destinations for the broader Cities of Immortals program, but the proposed development scale was not realized in the documented material. The Canadian organization acquired the Fleck/Paterson House in Ottawa in 1992. The 15,000-square-foot historic property had deteriorated substantially, and the organization spent a reported $3 million on acquisition and restoration. It used the building as its Canadian headquarters and associated it with the Maharishi Vedic Education Development Institute. Four suites were made available as a bed-and-breakfast. The City of Ottawa recognized the work with an adaptive-use award of excellence. In 2002 the property was sold to the Algerian Embassy for $2.9 million, reported at the time as a record price for an Ottawa heritage home. The organization indicated that it intended to develop a separate Maharishi Peace Palace for movement operations. International development proposals produced the organization’s most politically controversial episodes. In 1990 a Netherlands-based Mahedco entity headed by Jacques Uijen approached Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda. The proposal involved training Zambians through the Transcendental Meditation movement and establishing farming communities on a vast area of land. The reported area covered 18 million hectares, or about 23% of Zambia’s territory and half of its arable land. When the arrangement became public before an election, it became a significant political issue. Kaunda acknowledged an agreement but described it as an experiment and, after cabinet objections, agreed to reduce the initial plan to a 2,000-acre pilot project. Following Kaunda’s electoral defeat, the organization pursued a similar proposal in Mozambique under President Joaquim Chissano. The reported plan involved developing 20 million hectares and sharing profits with the government under a 50-year contract, but the Mozambican government denied the arrangement after the negotiations became public. A 2006 prospectus connected with Raam currency and bearer bonds identified Paul Gelderloos as Mahedco’s chief executive from 1990 and described the organization as involved in poverty-removal programs and enterprises in the Netherlands. The same material identified Girish Govindji Momaya as head of the New Delhi organization from 1989 to 1991 and reported liabilities for the Maharishi Heaven on Earth Development Foundation. Public information does not establish the organization’s current operating status, ownership, financial condition, or active projects.

• 2002

  Ottawa heritage property sold

  [1]Maharishi Heaven on Earth Developmenten.wikipedia.org

  The restored Fleck/Paterson House was sold to the Algerian Embassy.

• 1994

  Mozambique proposal becomes public

  [1]Maharishi Heaven on Earth Developmenten.wikipedia.org

  A reported long-term land-development arrangement in Mozambique was denied by the government after public attention.

• 1992

  Fleck/Paterson House acquired

  [1]Maharishi Heaven on Earth Developmenten.wikipedia.org

  The Canadian organization acquired the historic Ottawa property that it later restored and used as a headquarters.

• 1991

  Mount Shefford construction begins

  [1]Maharishi Heaven on Earth Developmenten.wikipedia.org

  Construction started on a proposed Maharishi community near Bromont, Quebec.

• 1990

  Zambian development proposal

  [1]Maharishi Heaven on Earth Developmenten.wikipedia.org

  The Netherlands-based Mahedco entity approached Zambia with a large-scale land and development proposal.

• 1988

  Organization founded in Malibu

  [1]Maharishi Heaven on Earth Developmenten.wikipedia.org

  Monty Guild founded Maharishi Heaven on Earth Development Corp. and initially financed it.

• 1988

  Cities of Immortals program announced

  [1]Maharishi Heaven on Earth Developmenten.wikipedia.org

  MHOED announced plans for 50 low-density Maharishi Cities of Immortals in the United States and Canada.

A movement-linked developer presenting real estate, architecture, education, health, and community planning as instruments for creating an integrated and spiritually oriented social environment.

• Master-planned residential communities · 1988

  Maharishi Cities of Immortals

  The principal MHOED concept was a network of planned residential communities organized around Maharishi Sthapatya Veda principles. Proposed features included 100 to 200 homes, large lots, shared parks and gardens, lakes or ponds, an elementary school, an Ayurvedic clinic, and a festival hall. Cars would be kept at the perimeter, with bicycles and electric carts used inside. The developments were marketed as healthier, orderly, spiritually oriented alternatives to conventional suburban neighborhoods.

• Theme parks and destination development

  Maharishi Veda Land

  Maharishi Veda Land was a theme-park concept promoted through Maharishi Veda Land International, a wholly owned subsidiary of MHOED. Associated with magician Doug Henning, the project was intended to combine entertainment, education, and Maharishi-related architectural and cultural themes. Locations were proposed or acquired in Orlando, Florida, and Niagara Falls, Ontario, and the parks were presented as potential complements to the Cities of Immortals.

• Heritage property and headquarters · 1992

  Fleck/Paterson House

  MHOED’s Canadian organization acquired and restored the historic Fleck/Paterson House in Ottawa. The 15,000-square-foot property served as a headquarters and educational site, with four suites operated as a bed-and-breakfast. The restoration received the City of Ottawa’s adaptive-use award of excellence before the property was sold to the Algerian Embassy in 2002.

• 1994

  Mozambique land arrangement controversy

  A reported agreement concerning development of 20 million hectares under a 50-year contract attracted public scrutiny and was subsequently denied by the Mozambican government.

  Source

• 1991

  Zambian land proposal controversy

  A proposal granting a movement-linked company rights connected to approximately 18 million hectares became a major political controversy before Zambia’s election. The scale of the proposed land transfer and the company’s reported limited net worth prompted strong public objections.

  Source

Read more

• 1993Mozambique development initiative

  Mozambique

  The movement pursued a reported 50-year arrangement to develop large areas of land and assist with agriculture, infrastructure, and health services.

  Outcome. The Mozambican government denied the reported agreement after the negotiations became public.

  Source
• 1990Zambia development initiative

  Zambia

  Mahedco presented a plan linking Transcendental Meditation training, farming communities, and extensive land-development rights to a proposed national revitalization program.

  Outcome. The proposal became an election issue and was reduced to a proposed pilot after political objections; its ultimate implementation is not established.

  Source
• 1988Cities of Immortals developer-recruitment program

  United States · Canada

  MHOED promoted a 50-city program and planned a 29-city tour to recruit independent developers for communities designed under Maharishi Sthapatya Veda principles.

  Outcome. Several possible sites and developer relationships were announced, but the network was not built at the proposed scale.

  Source

• 2002

  Sell the Fleck/Paterson HouseOther

  Background

  The restored Ottawa property had served as the Canadian headquarters and an accommodation facility.

  Action taken

  MHOED’s Canadian organization sold the property to the Algerian Embassy.

  Aftermath

  The sale ended the organization’s documented use of the heritage house, while the restoration remained recognized by the City of Ottawa.

  Source

• 1988

  Adopt an advisory developer model for planned communitiesStrategy

  Background

  MHOED sought to spread the Cities of Immortals concept without necessarily owning or constructing every project itself.

  Action taken

  The organization proposed providing architectural and planning advice, marketing, and sales support to local developers in exchange for fees and commissions.

  Aftermath

  The model generated announced developer interest and several proposed sites, but financing and execution limited the program’s expansion.

  Source

• Promote Maharishi Veda Land theme parksProduct launch

  Background

  MHOED sought complementary commercial projects beyond residential communities.

  Action taken

  It created Maharishi Veda Land International, provided reported seed financing, and pursued locations in Florida and Ontario.

  Aftermath

  The proposed parks did not reach the documented intended scale.

  Reported seed loan from MHOED to Maharishi Veda Land International. $4 million at 11% interest (Project financing phase; year not specified in the reference material)

  Source

• 2002

  Fleck/Paterson House sold to Algerian Embassy[1]Maharishi Heaven on Earth Developmenten.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The restored Ottawa heritage property used by the Canadian organization was sold to the Algerian Embassy.

• 1994

  MHOED-linked Mozambique agreement is denied[1]Maharishi Heaven on Earth Developmenten.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  After a proposed long-term arrangement involving large areas of Mozambican land became public, the government denied that the reported agreement would proceed.

• 1991

  Mount Shefford residential project begins construction[1]Maharishi Heaven on Earth Developmenten.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Construction began on a proposed Maharishi community near Bromont, Quebec, with some lots reportedly sold.

• 1991

  Zambian land proposal becomes election issue[1]Maharishi Heaven on Earth Developmenten.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  A proposal involving extensive land-development rights and a Transcendental Meditation-based development program became politically contentious before Zambia’s election.

• 1988

  MHOED announces plan for 50 Maharishi Cities of Immortals[1]Maharishi Heaven on Earth Developmenten.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The organization publicized a North American development program based on low-density communities designed according to Maharishi Sthapatya Veda principles.

1. 1Maharishi Heaven on Earth Developmenten.wikipedia.org