Chicago, IL— In a significant legal development, the Chicago Board of Education and the New York-based David Lynch Foundation have agreed to a $2.6 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit alleging that public high school students were subjected to Hindu religious practices under the guise of a meditation program. The settlement, approved on May 8, 2025, concludes a three-year legal battle centered around the "Quiet Time" initiative implemented in several Chicago public high schools between 2015 and 2019.
Key Facts:
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Settlement Amount: $2.6 million to be distributed among more than 700 former students and to cover legal fees.
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Program Details: The "Quiet Time" program involved twice-daily 15-minute sessions of Transcendental Meditation (TM), which plaintiffs argued included religious components such as a "puja" ceremony and Sanskrit chants invoking Hindu deities.
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Legal Basis: The lawsuit was filed under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, asserting that the program constituted a government endorsement of religion in public schools.
The "Quiet Time" program, promoted by the David Lynch Foundation, aimed to help students manage stress and improve academic performance through TM. However, plaintiffs contended that the program required participation in religious rituals, including a "puja" ceremony involving Sanskrit chants and offerings to Hindu deities, as a prerequisite for receiving a personal mantra used in meditation.
One of the original plaintiffs, Mariyah Green, reported that the program conflicted with her Christian beliefs. In a separate ruling in 2023, a federal judge awarded Green $150,000 in damages and legal fees.
In April 2024, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly certified a class of students who had participated in the program and reached adulthood after January 2021, allowing the case to proceed as a class-action lawsuit. While neither the Chicago Public Schools nor the David Lynch Foundation admitted wrongdoing, both parties agreed to the settlement to resolve the claims.
This case underscores the complexities of implementing programs in public schools that may intersect with religious practices, highlighting the importance of maintaining the constitutional separation of church and state.
Do You Know? Transcendental Meditation (TM) was introduced to the West by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1950s and has since been practiced by millions worldwide.(RNS)
Key Terms:
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Transcendental Meditation (TM): A form of silent mantra meditation developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, often associated with stress reduction and self-development.
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Puja: A Hindu ritual involving offerings to deities, often including chants and prayers.
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Establishment Clause: A clause in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibiting the government from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion.”