Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question? See if it’s already been answered below.
General
How is COVID-19 affecting our upcoming courses?
We did have a whole programme of in-residence courses planned for 2020, but unfortunately many courses have had to be rearranged or cancelled due to COVID-19. However, this doesn’t mean we have no courses. We have started offering online courses alongside some smaller courses and events still taking place on campus, where coronavirus regulations allow. Please read this statement on how we are handling the coronavirus outbreak.
What is MERU?
MERU was founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi as a university promoting research into consciousness as a field of all possibilities. Today, MERU is the headquarters of Maharishi’s international organisation and offers courses, retreats, and events to the global Transcendental Meditation community. You can read more about our story here.
Can I learn Transcendental Meditation at MERU?
At the moment we don’t offer courses to learn Transcendental Meditation at MERU, but there are many TM Centres in the Netherlands and around the world where you can learn from a certified teacher. Please visit this page to find a TM Teacher near you.
What is the status of the MERU Health Centre?
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 complications, we had to end our contract with the BosHotel. Currently, it is possible to arrange treatments on the Vlodrop campus on request (contact: Ayurveda@meru.international). We look forward to having a complete Maharishi AyurVeda facility on campus as part of the MERU master plan.
Where is the overnight housing for courses?
Most of our events are held on MERU Vlodrop campus, with accommodation arranged in nearby bungalow parks or hotels. If you have booked housing through MERU, we will make sure you have daily transportation to your meetings, or that your accommodation is a short walk to campus. Please note that we’re no longer using the St. Odilienberg facility.
Application
How do I attend a course?
All courses and events require you to go through a brief online application and approval process before you are confirmed for the course. Please fill out the application form to apply – if it submits successfully you will receive an automatic email. Please also allow a few business days for us to process your application, as we must communicate with your TM Teacher or national TM office to be able to admit you to the course.
As soon as we receive your approval, we’ll send you a confirmation email and payment request. You can then finalise your reservation by paying for your course and booking your travel so everything is ready for your arrival.
How early should I apply and pay for a course?
For most courses, the sooner you can apply, the better – especially if you need a visa invitation letter. But in general, it’s ideal to apply at least a month before the course starts, and one week in advance at the very latest. Payment deadlines vary based on the course and the accommodation arrangement – we’ll let you know everything in our email correspondence with you.
Do I need to apply for the special celebration days?
We encourage you to apply online for the special celebration days. If you apply and pay online more than five days before the special celebration day, you’ll pay five euros less than if you pay on arrival.
I need the information to make my payment. Can you send it to me?
Once you’re confirmed for the course, we will send you a confirmation email with the necessary information to make your payment.
I haven’t received my confirmation yet – is everything okay?
Most applications are confirmed within a few business days, but if for some reason it takes longer than one week, you’re welcome to ask us about your application status by writing to courses@meru.international. You’re also welcome to reach out to your TM Teacher and let them know you’ve applied to a course and need approval, which can speed up the process.
What are the payment options?
Our payment options are credit card, PayPal, or bank transfer. We’ll send you this information with the confirmation email that you are accepted for the course. We ask that you complete your payment at least two weeks before the start of the course (some courses may have earlier deadlines).
Planning
What is the arrival and departure time?
For most events, the recommended arrival time is the afternoon on the first date listed, and departure is after lunch on the last day. So for example, if a course is 13-20 September, you’re recommended to arrive on the afternoon of 13 September, and leave after lunch on 20 September.
The exception is single-day celebrations – for these you’re invited to arrive in the morning and leave after the final evening meeting, and enjoy meals and group programme for the whole day.
What should I expect for the schedule?
Each type of course is a bit different, but in general, you’ll have a full but relaxed and enjoyable schedule. Retreats, courses and Advanced Techniques have full days of knowledge meetings and programme, and are usually scheduled until about 21:30 in the evening. Assemblies and celebrations are also structured, but you have more freedom to attend meetings or go to bed as early as you like.
In general, we recommend leaving behind any office work, so that you can be present on your event and enjoy the full benefits.
Is there wi-fi on campus?
With the exception of the summer assembly, we don’t have publicly accessible wi-fi or phone reception on campus. If you do need to book a taxi or make some other emergency call, you’re always welcome to ask the security guards at reception to make a call for you. You will have access to wi-fi in your accommodation.
When and how can I book my travel?
We encourage you to book your travel as soon as you receive your confirmation and payment request email from the MERU Course Office. Visit our travel information page for all details about getting to MERU.
I need a visa invitation letter. What should I do?
If you need an invitation letter to apply for a visa, please apply and inform us of this at courses@meru.international as soon as possible – ideally a few months before you’ll be attending the course. We’ll need additional information from you before we can issue your letter, so please respond to all follow-up questions from our visa office as quickly as possible to avoid any delays.
Online courses
How do I access the course?
If you are following an online course live, it will be hosted on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link to access the broadcast via email once your payment has been confirmed. If you are following a pre-recorded course, or you want to watch a replay of a live course, you will receive login details to access online.meru.international when your application and payment have been confirmed.
How do I pay for the course?
You can pay with PayPal or credit card.
What is the refund policy for online courses?
We understand that life happens and plans change. If you, as a consumer, apply for one of MERU’s online courses that is exclusively meant for your personal use, you have a 14-day right of cancellation starting from the date that you are accepted to one of our online courses (this 14-day period does not apply to professional development courses). Cancelling your application in writing within 14 days will result in a full refund of all fees paid if the course has not yet started. If a course begins within 14 days of your acceptance to the course, and you still wish to cancel and receive a refund, you are agreeing that for the sessions you attend, you will be charged a proportion of the whole course fee and your refund will be less this amount.
We will do what we can to ensure that you are satisfied with your experience of the course for which you have enrolled. However, you can still leave a course at any time after the start date and submit a refund request in writing, even after the right of cancellation has expired. This request will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
If a refund is granted, it will be prorated based on a variety of factors including the number of sessions attended, time elapsed since start date, and minus any processing fee (max 5%) from the bank/payment service, and minus any processing fee from MERU International.
If MERU delays a course start date for more than three months or cancels a course, you will receive a full refund for the amount that you paid.
How do I watch a course with translations?
If a course is being offered in multiple languages, you will follow these steps to enable simultaneous translation on Zoom:
- Click Interpretation:
- Select the language that you would like to hear.
- (Optional) To only hear the interpreted language, click Mute Original Audio.
How do I apply for an online event?
Go to the online courses section of the website and see what we have on offer. If you want to apply for one, simply click the ‘apply now’ button on the event description and you’ll be redirected to an online application form.
Will there be translation available for my course?
On the event page of the course you will see whether simultaneous translation will be available for this course, and which languages will be offered. If you are unsure about it, don’t hesitate to write to courses@meru.international and check if your language will be translated for your course.
If I miss a session, can I catch up by watching the recording? How do I access the recording?
Every session will be recorded and uploaded on the online platform shortly after the course. For most courses, it is no problem if you miss a session and you can easily watch the recording before the next session. For some courses, it is best to watch each live session, but in some exceptional cases the recording can be watched before the next session. This will be made clear on the event page of each course.
How long after the session will the recording be available on the online platform?
As soon as the session ends, we work to make the recording available as soon as possible. Depending on the length of the session/course, it can take a few days before the editing and uploading is complete.
Which time zone is the course?
The listed times are for the Central European Summer Time Zone (CEST).
I lost my password and/or username for the online platform, how can I get them?
An email was sent to you with your username and password, with the title “Your Login details for the (Name of the Course)”. Please also check your spam folder. If you cannot find this email, please don’t hesitate to contact us at courses@meru.international