Honor Clarence Evjen with a Maharishi Yagya

"Dear Clarence: I miss you! Your penetrating intellect, kind kind heart, sharp wit, and passion for enlightenment. Thank you for your friendship. Deeply and truly. Jai Guru Dev, Bobby" (Bob Roth)

"Clarence was a very fine person and as good of a Purusha as I’ve ever known." -- Bob Argy

We are raising $4200 to pay for a Maharishi Yagya for dear Clarence Evjen, a founding member of Purusha. This amount will also cover some special food items at a banquet for Purusha at the conclusion of the yagya. The yagya will begin 14 days after his passing which was on March 18.

Any funds raised in surplus of our goal will be used to try to find ways to provide appropriate eldercare for Purusha and other members of the TM family.

Clarence's Enlightenment Trajectory

Part 1: A few highlights of his pre-Purusha years

Clarence had a B.S. in Chemistry, M.S. in Public Health, MSCI from MERU

Clarence started TM in 1972; completed TTC in late 1974 in Switzerland and AEGTC also in Switzerland in 1977

Clarence

Part 2: Purusha Years

Clarence joined Purusha in Boppard, Germany, spring 1982

He traveled with Purusha to Switzerland; Washington DC (MIU-CNL); Taste of Utopia; Norway, Sweden and Denmark (Global March); Philippines; India; Livingston Manor; NLP-Great Britain; MIU (Fairfield); North Carolina, MERU-Holland; and West Virginia.

The following reports from a few of his fellow Purusha give a flavor of his Purusha years.

Raja Mike Tompkins wrote:

Clarence's dedication to the development of consciousness was exemplary, not only in his own life but also truly inspiring to all of us who worked with him and to those who benefited from his efforts in spreading the knowledge of Maharishi Vedic Science globally. He was a leading member of the legendary media team that made many of Maharishi's technologies of consciousness household words, not just in the USA but throughout the world, including Transcendental Meditation, Yogic Flying, Ayurveda, Shapatya Veda, Jyotish, and Gandharva Veda. Clarence was a key player in our Purusha Government Group, too, bringing his mastery of this supreme knowledge to US government officials on Capitol Hill and hosting them at the MIU College of Natural Law, four blocks from the White House in downtown DC. What stands out in memory about Clarence in those years is his sincerity and his sterling character, and especially his care for the all-important purity of the teaching. Much love to you, dear Clarence, and Jai Guru Dev.

Doug Walker wrote:

Clarence headed the Administrative department of our Maharishi Vedic University in Washington, DC, which Maharishi founded to be the first university in the world to offer a curriculum in the disciplines of Maharishi Vedic Science. In the campaign to gain legal recognition from the District government to offer such unique Degree programs, Clarence was the lynchpin--tireless, responsive, organized, insightful and energetic, never once compromising program to 'get the job done.' Maharishi and MVU President Dr Keith Wallace expressed greatest appreciation for Clarence and his work. In the end the non-meditating head of the DC Licensing Commission expressed it well, "Clarence, you are far too good a person for this job."

Note from John:

One of Clarence's MVU responsibilities was assembling a library of Vedic books which he did in his natural, meticulous way. For example, he was not satisfied with just a collection of the normally available Upanishads, instead he researched and found rare manuscripts and had them photocopied and bound. Purusha is still enjoying the library today.

Bob Argy wrote:

As I look back to all the time I spent shoulder to shoulder in Maharishi’s service with dear Clarence, I am filled with appreciation for the many fine qualities he lived so honestly and simply — his devotion to Guru Dev and Maharishi, his sparkling intelligence, his inner strength, and and his unwavering commitment to the goals of our beloved Movement and his own evolution. It was a joy to share with him all the experiences of life at the Florida Capital in Avon Park, the Vedic Atom project, the India teaching project, MIU-CNL, Livingston Manor, and the Spiritual Center, etc.

Much love and all best wishes to you always and always, dear Clarence brother. You remain here with us in heart and mind. ❤️

Dean Draznin wrote:

Clarence Evjen was a dignified, stately presence, and I don’t think I ever heard him speak ill of anyone—ever. He was guileless, soft-spoken, well-humored, and carried himself with the bearing of true royalty. Fittingly, the name Evjen comes from the Old Norse word, “efja,” which is connected to bodies of water or regions near rivers. Specifically, in Norwegian it means “eddy backwater,” which suggests an area of calm and safety apart from the surrounding, turbulent whitewater. Being around Clarence, you sensed a depth of stability, self-sufficiency and contentment. He was our wise older brother. I feel honored to have known him. May his memory continue to bless us all.

Ted Janowski wrote:

Clarence was a visionary, he recognized the nutritional as well as the good tasting value of blueberries. With that vison he was the vanguard of the 1st blueberry patch here at the WV Purusha Capital.

Note from John;

In his final year with Purusha in WV, he was not able to pick blueberries for himself, but he was happy that other Purusha remembered he was the founder of our blueberry fields forever and would bring blueberries to his room. I sure he is happy to be remembered for the blueberries, "a gift which keeps on giving" as he said.

Ted Weissman wrote:

Clarence Evjen was a great individual and a special honor to be near. His ever keen mind, devoted to simplicity was always thinking right and doing right and his face knew only one thing - the inner brightness of person and mind devoted to the joy of one pointedness. Such a heart and mind could only be devoted to the greatness and natural completeness of Maharishi. To the benefit of his acquaintances and friends - for him there was nothing else.

In July 2021, Clarence left Purusha for health reasons and went to live with brother in Wisconsin. During that time he would write essays on Vedic Science to send to his Purusha friends for review. He probably also watched a few Viking games.