A Healthy Treat: Transcendental Meditation and Diabetes

The Transcendental Meditation® (TM) technique may be a healthy, sweet treat for those with diabetes according to a recent study. This is because new research indicates that African American women significantly improved their condition of dyslipidemia by practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique.

Dyslipidemia is the most common complication of diabetes, characterized by low HDL (good) cholesterol and high triglyceride levels, which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). About twice as many African American women suffer from CVD and diabetes as white women, and psychosocial stress contributes to the risk of diabetes and diabetes complications especially cardiovascular disease.

This 12-month study on the TM technique and diabetes was conducted by the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention, Morehouse School of Medicine and Howard University Hospital and College of Medicine.

The research involved 49 diabetic African American women, aged between 55 and 85 years, who were randomly allocated to a Transcendental Meditation program group or to a health-education group focusing on diet and exercise. The Transcendental Meditation group showed a 29% greater increase in HDL (good) cholesterol and a 20% greater drop in triglycerides than subjects in the diet and exercise group at the end of the trial period.

Carolyn King, Ph.D., lead author of the study, recently presented the research at the American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting and Exposition in Philadelphia.

King and others feel that combining the Transcendental Meditation technique with changes to diet and exercise may lead to even sweeter benefits for our health and happiness.

The Perfect Match: Transcendental Meditation and Global Love

The search for perfection is often elusive but Father Gabriel Mejia, a Catholic priest from South America, may be on to something. By merging the scientific benefits of the Transcendental Meditation® technique with the magic of global love, Father Mejia has created what seems to be a marriage made in heaven.

Father Mejia’s passion is providing assistance and guidance to the at-risk youth of South America. It is from this passion that he has created 52 shelters for homeless children and youthful offenders in his home country. Father Mejia, who is sometimes referred to as the "Saint of Colombia," says that “Love is the most essential medicine for any illness or disorder and that is why we must insist on globalizing love.”

Another important ingredient in Father Mejia’s recipe for success is the availability of the TM technique at his shelters for displaced street children. In October Father Mejia hosted a conference in Argentina with 1,500 participants to share this message. The theme of the conference was the benefits of the Transcendental Meditation program in the rehabilitation of youth offenders and the prevention of crime.

With the help of the David Lynch Foundation, more than 3,600 children have learned the Transcendental Meditation technique in South America. An additional 700 young people have also learned the advanced technique of TM, called TM-Sidhi® program.

Father Mejia’s humanitarian work has been widely recognized. He has received an award from the World Federation of Therapeutic Communities and the Queen of Spain. He has also served as president of the Latin American Federation of Therapeutic Communities and received an honorary doctorate from Maharishi University of Management in Iowa.

We wish Father Mejia well in his efforts to engage the youth of South American in the peace of the TM technique while surrounded by global love.

American Indians Try Transcendental Meditation

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What do at-risk youth, diabetes and our native American Indian population have in common? You guessed it (or maybe you didn’t): Transcendental Meditation (TM). Recently hundreds of American Indians have learned the Transcendental Meditation® technique at the Winnebago (Nebraska), Pine Ridge (South Dakota), and Passamaquoddy (Maine) reservations. The leaders of these American Indian tribes and others, are gathering for an international conference this Fall, entitled “Building Healthy, Sustainable American Indian Communities.” The conference will showcase Consciousness-Based education, prevention-oriented health care, renewable energy, organic agriculture, and cultural preservation.

Researchers will present the results of several controlled studies on the effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique for reducing acute stress and behavioral problems among hundreds of at-risk American Indian youth. Findings show the TM® technique promoted higher scores on standardized state tests of mathematics and reading, 25 percent less absenteeism, and 30 percent higher graduation rates among the meditating young people as compared to controls.

John Boncheff, who is co-director of the TM program at the Winnebago reservation says: “The TM technique is not only helping students perform better in school, but it is also helping them to overcome the current epidemic of diabetes and to reconnect with their spiritual heritage. It is helping them to save their lives and their culture.”

Conference hosts and participants include the Indian Health Services (IHS), National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), National Indian Education Association (NIEA), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Winnebago Tribal Health Services (WTHS), Winnebago Treaty Hospital–IHS, David Lynch Foundation, and Hocak Elders Council, Inc.

By Dr. Keith DeBoer

www.tm.org
http://adventuresintranscendentalmeditation.blogspot.com/

Transcendental Meditation Crosses the Great Wall of China

The ancient wisdom of Confucius says: “Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without a moon or star.” His words serve as a poetic illustration of China’s traditional emphasis on education and learning. Fast forward to 2009 and we notice this moon is shining its light not only on the streets of Bejing but also on the Vedic tradition of India and the cornfields of Iowa.

Last month, fifty one Chinese students received their degrees from Maharishi University of Management (MUM) at the Overseas Chinese College (OCC) of the Capital University of Economics and Business, in Beijing. At least sixteen of those will complete their MBA degrees at MUM’s main campus in Fairfield, Iowa, USA and several undergraduate students are finishing their BA in Business Administration degrees at MUM Iowa too.

What’s the cause for this international exchange? “Once students from MUM’s China campus are in the Fairfield MUM environment, they all want to continue their MBAs here,” said Dr. Yunxiang Zhu, Director of International Programs and Associate Dean of Asian Development in Iowa. “Our friendly faculty, block system, coherent environment, and twice daily practice of the TM® technique are very attractive to them.”

How does it work? Well, students in China take their first two years of classes with the international faculty of the affiliate college while MUM professors teach in the third and fourth years. However more and more students are choosing to complete their degrees on the MUM campus in Fairfield rather than in China. The MUM curriculum in China is identical to the curriculum in Fairfield including the practice of the Transcendental Meditation® program but their seems to be something special about the MUM campus in Iowa. There are 70 students currently on the MUM track in China and more than 30 Chinese students are already in Fairfield finishing their degrees.

In pursuing an education that combines the wisdom of ancient India with the practicality of modern science, these Chinese students are actualizing the words of Confucius: “I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.”

By Dr. Keith DeBoer http://AdventuresinTranscendentalMeditation.blogspot.com

®Transcendental Meditation and TM are registered trademarks of Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation, a non-profit educational organization.

The FBI Looks at the Transcendental Meditation Technique

There was a straw man in the Wizard of Oz who felt his life would be richer and more complete if he “only had a brain”. He wandered down an unknown road with a farm girl and her dog in search of a solution. Could it be that the Transcendental Meditation^® (TM) technique was what Mr. Scarecrow was looking for? Dr. Fred Travis, director of the Center for Brain, Consciousness and Cognition at Maharishi University of Management may have the answer. At least according to his recent article entitled “Brain Functioning as the Ground for Spiritual Experiences and Ethical Behavior” published in the new edition of the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin .

In his article, Dr. Travis explains that every daily experience affects our brain and has a direct impact on its development and capabilities.

You’ve heard the phrase “use it or lose it”. Well this principle applies not only to our muscles but to our brain as well. It seems the synaptic connections between brain cells grow and decay based on what kinds of activities and experiences our brain does or doesn’t undertake. One style of functioning that a healthy brain needs is regular experiences of calm and inner happiness. Its obvious that those who work in law enforcement have very stressful outer experiences in the course of their daily work and are in dire need of a calming inner experiences to balance their outer duties.

Dr. Travis writes that the Transcendental Meditation technique gives the experience of pure, silent awareness which completes the ‘full range of motion’ for the brain which is necessary to give it greater strength and integration. As a result inner calm is more pronounced even in stressful situations, thereby creating a kind of inner shield or bullet proof vest from stress that reduces the effects of a harsh environment.

In Dr. Travis’ academic language: “research has indicated that practice of the TM technique leads to increased frontal brain integration, faster habituation to stressful stimuli, and higher moral reasoning. Spiritual experiences enliven frontal coherence, which builds global circuits to place individual experiences in a larger framework. In this vein, spiritual experiences could provide the inner armor to protect law enforcement officers from the noxious effects of negative experiences and stress.”

The content of the FBI article has been incorporated into the FBI’s Wellness and Vitality in Police Officers program. “The FBI is developing ways to heal the effects of the day-to-day experience of Law Enforcement,” said Dr. Travis, “and we are part of that conversation.”

So it seems the Transcendental Meditation technique may help folks in law enforcement keep their stress levels low and their intelligence levels high.
Now if only the Missing Persons Bureau could locate a certain straw man who was last seen walking down a yellow brick road. Hmmm….

By Dr. Keith DeBoer http://AdventuresinTranscendentalMeditation.blogspot.com

The Mantras of the Transcendental Meditation Technique

These days we hear a lot of talk about the mantras used for meditation. Some people say a random word is best, others recommend the universal sound Aum or Om. But what about the mantras used in the Transcendental Meditation technique? Are they generic or special? Secular or religious? Useless or effective? And where do they come from? These are important questions so let’s find an answer for them.

The Transcendental Meditation technique is an effortless mental procedure whereby an individual experiences increasingly quieter levels of thinking, leading to the experience of total silence; the source of thought, at the deepest level the mind. The technique of Transcendental Meditation has many unique features and one of them is the mantra. As part of personal instruction each student receives a suitable thought/sound or mantra for their meditation practice. These mantras are meaningless sounds which serve as the delicate vehicle on which the mind glides through deeper, more silent levels of the thinking process.

For maximum effectiveness students are encouraged to refrain from speaking or writing down their mantra as this has a damaging and dulling effect on this highly delicate and refined meditation tool. Also, there is a limited pool of mantras that each Transcendental Meditation teacher draws upon to select the appropriate sound for each student. So it’s entirely possible that some students could have the same mantra.

The mantra is selected by the Transcendental Meditation teacher based on the suitability and harmonious effect it will create for each student when properly used. Also, the technique of how to use the mantra is just as crucial as the proper selection of the mantra/sound itself.

It’s important to note that the mantras are used for their sound quality only and have no assigned meaning. These two important aspects, suitability and meaninglessness, allow the mind to be lively but undirected at the same time, so it can sink deep within, ‘transcend’ thought and experience its own silent, inner nature. This is the process called ‘transcending’ which takes place during the Transcendental Meditation technique.

To understand this principle more clearly lets examine the word ‘flower’. A word has two aspects: the sound value and the English meaning. When we say or think the word ‘flower’ we automatically consider the word’s meaning, its qualities and context. We might think of the color, the smell, the quantity, the location and so on and these thoughts about the flower engage and hold the mind on the surface, conscious thinking level and do not allow the mind to fathom its inner nature.

Therefore by intention and by design, the mantra used in the Transcendental Meditation technique is a sound that has no meaning attributed to it either by the teacher or their student. At the same time it should be clear, that if a science, religion or cultural group were to assign a meaning to a mantra, in the past or future, it would still have no bearing on the use of that mantra in the instruction or practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique.

For centuries “google” has been a delightful, nonsensical sound, uttered by babies. More recently however it has been attributed a meaning; the name of a worldwide, Internet search engine. However this new adult meaning has no bearing on a baby’s use of that same sound. Likewise mantras are sounds that are meaningless both to the Transcendental Meditation teacher and the student even though other people, cultures or religions may or may not have assigned a meaning to them.

To further illustrate this point let’s consider the word “flat”. In the USA this sound has a meaning associated with the shape of an object. In England however, “flat” also refers to an apartment. Therefore, each respective culture utilizes sound and assigns meanings for their own localized purpose. Other languages, cultures and people who also use that same sound or word, are completely indifferent to the meaning assigned to that sound/word by other countries or cultures. The same is true with respect to the Transcendental Meditation technique. It utilizes specific mantras/sounds completely irrespective of their intended meaning in other languages or cultural settings.

The Transcendental Meditation technique and the mantras/sounds it utilizes have their origin in the ancient Vedic tradition which predates all religions and cultures including the Hindu religion. The Vedic tradition is a universal body of complete and timeless knowledge encompassing the total field of natural law, or underlying intelligence, that governs the universe. Because the Vedas and the Vedic tradition are ancient and universal, many of its sounds, names and principals are found in many countries, cultures and religions around the world.

The ancient Vedic tradition of India is the oldest continuous tradition of knowledge on earth. In 2003 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed the Vedic tradition (specifically the recitation of the Vedic hymns) a “masterpiece of intangible heritage to humanity”.

The TM technique and its mantras are derived from this same Vedic tradition. Over thousands of years, the technique of Transcendental Meditation contained in the Vedas had been misinterpreted and therefore lost its effectiveness. It was then revived in the 1950’s, to its original and highly effective form, by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who was the custodian and representative of the Vedic tradition in our generation.

So we conclude therefore, that the mantras used in the Transcendental Meditation technique not only have their roots in a timeless tradition of knowledge but that they are also simple and powerful, ancient and unique, meaningful and meaningless, all at the same time!

®Transcendental Meditation and TM are registered trademarks of Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation, a non-profit educational organization.

By Dr. Keith DeBoer http://AdventuresinTranscendentalMeditation.blogspot.com

References:
http://www.tm.org
http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=21274&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Transcendental Meditation: Where Does the Money Go?

When we hire an event planner and a disc jockey for our daughters sweet sixteen birthday party we don’t usually care about where our hard earned cash ends up. However, when we’re contemplating a course in meditation, we'll somehow it seems a little different. It’s those purchases that are a more abstract that we sometimes question. You know, like health insurance and taxes. So where does the money go after we fork over the cost of a course in the Transcendental Meditation® technique? After all, inquiring minds want to know, right?

Bang For the Buck--First, it’s good to know that the course fee (currently $1500 for adults and $750 for students) includes approximately 10 hours of personal and group instruction and a lifetime of follow up classes, anywhere in the U.S. (including Hawaii). I mean, a college course is expensive too, but there’s no personal instruction and a lifetime opportunity to audit that course at dozens of locations around the country. So Transcendental Meditation offers a package deal that’s something pretty special.

NonProfit--The organization that teaches the Transcendental Meditation technique is called Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation (MVED). It is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational entity. Its mission is to provide the technique of Transcendental Meditation to millions of people so that they may reap the scientifically validated benefits of health, happiness, prosperity and inner peace.

Scholarships--The organization offers financial aid just like other educational institutions. They facilitate, long term, low interest, student loans as well as full and partial scholarships for qualifying students, families etc. As much as 35% of all MVED revenues are used to provide scholarships for Transcendental Meditation courses, for those that could not otherwise afford it. The organization also works closely with a number of charitable foundations that provide full and partial scholarships to students and at-risk youth. Over the past two years more than 50,000 students in schools across the United States, Latin America and Africa have learned the Transcendental Meditation technique through this program.

Salaries--For more than a decade I was an employee of MVED Corporation and worked as a financial manager and regional director. As such, I can verify that the salaries that the organization paid were modest and below the national average for comparable work. As an administrator in a leadership role I received almost the same salary as many entry level employees. I had frequent interactions with senior members of the organization many of whom, worked full time, on a volunteer basis and received no compensation whatsoever.

Maharishi—The founder of the technique, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, worked tirelessly, twelve to fifteen hours per day for more than 50 years. His only focus, day and night, was to create an organization that could provide the benefits of his meditation technique to millions of people around the world. When he first began teaching in the 1950’s he relied only on donations. However, as the organization grew and buildings were needed to establish Transcendental Meditation centers and a permanent organizational structure, standardized course fees came into existence. As for Maharishi himself, he was a monk with no possessions. He never owned a car, a house, a plane or a building at anytime in his life. He lived only for the good of all people and never thought of himself.

So when you pay your course fee for Transcendental Meditation you can rest assured that your hard earned money is going to good use. You are receiving a technique and follow up classes that will provide life long benefits and you will sleep well at night knowing that, through your course fee, others will also have the opportunity to benefit.

®Transcendental Meditation and TM are registered trademarks of Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation, a non-profit educational organization.

www.TM.org
http://adventuresintranscendentalmeditation.blogspot.com/

Change Begins Within: Transcendental Meditation and Education

You could hear a ‘pen’ drop and all the children had their eyes closed. No it wasn’t nap time, it was “quiet time” during my visit to the Maharishi School in Fairfield, Iowa.

Dr. Ashley Deans has been the Executive Director of this award winning, K-12, educational institution for more than a decade. Recently he traveled the world sharing his story about a school that over the past ten years has garnered one hundred state competition titles and a National Merit Scholar finalist percentage that is ten times the national average.

How is this possible when Maharishi School has an open admission policy and scholarships for students in financial need so that any child of any level may attend? “The secret to success”, says Dr. Deans, “is the Transcendental Meditation® technique, which the students practice for about 15 minutes at the beginning and end of each school day”.

Over the past three years, Dr. Deans has visited over 40 countries including China, India, Australia, New Zealand, Armenia, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Egypt, and almost every country in the European Union. Most recently, Dr. Deans spoke in Canada, Switzerland and the Balkan states.

“The response to our presentations”, Dr. Deans says, “is completely positive in every respect. It is now common for ministers of education to ask after just ten minutes, ‘How can I learn this?’ ” The Minister of Education in Serbia, for example expressed great interest and the Vice Rector of the University of Novi Sad said he would like to have Transcendental Meditation as part of his university.

In addition educators and students in every country seem really inspired by the goals of the David Lynch Foundation to offer one million at-risk students the opportunity to learn and practice the Transcendental Meditation technique. Recently the David Lynch Foundation sponsored a benefit concert featuring Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr plus a host of other celebrities and musicians to raise funds for his foundation’s ambitious goal.

Paul McCartney had this to say about why young people could benefit from the Transcendental Meditation technique: “I think meditation offers a moment in your day to be at peace with yourself and therefore the universe, which once was thought of as a slightly silly hippie idea, but now it's much more accepted and even fits with some of the most advanced scientific thinking.”

So next time your son or daughter turns off the TV, the CD player and the computer all at once and their bedroom emanates nothing but total silence. Don’t panic, they just might be communing with their own silent, inner universe....... Or quietly sending a text message.

For more information: http://maharishischooliowa.org/ or
http://www.davidlynchfoundation.org/ or http://www.tm.org/

Transcendental Meditation and TM are registered trademarks of Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation, a non-profit educational organization.

How to Learn the Transcendental Meditation Technique

Sitting in a field of flowers, legs crossed, wrapped in white cloth, the sweet smell of incense wafting through the air. That's what most people think of when they hear the word 'meditation'. But what we see and hear in the media is not always an accurate picture of reality. The Transcendental Meditation® technique is a simple mental procedure that is practiced for twenty minutes twice per day. It has been learned by millions of people and has been the subject of hundreds of research studies. But just what is the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique and how does one learn it? Well here are some of the details.

Environment—While it is certainly enjoyable to practice the Transcendental Meditation technique in a quiet place it is not necessary. Many busy people from all walks of life practice the Transcendental Meditation technique in airports, train stations, lobbies and hotel rooms. Because this technique is an automatic and natural response of the mind and body, the process is easy in any kind of environment whether it is quiet and secluded or noisy and public.

Posture--The Transcendental Meditation technique is practiced sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. One can sit in a chair, on the bed or on the floor. Any location or sitting position is considered to be correct as long as one is comfortable. This technique is never practiced while lying down.

Concentration—In a concentration technique for self development a person might be asked to focus on a candle, to eliminate all thoughts, to visualize something or to focus on a particular thought, part of the body etc. Then, whenever the mind wanders from the candle or the visualization etc. the concentration technique requires that we bring our attention back to the point or topic of focus i.e. candle etc. The Transcendental Meditation technique however, is unique and different in that it does not involve any concentration or focus. Transcendental Meditation technique is a completely effortless technique in which the mind flows naturally and purposefully to the field of creative silence (or Pure Consciousness) at the source of the mind. This happens spontaneously and naturally, with out effort, during the technique.

Breathing—Many meditation techniques focus on the rhythm of the breath. The Transcendental Meditation technique, however, does not focus on the breath or its rhythm. Instead TM utilizes the minds own natural tendency to move towards greater peace and silence within; in the same way that gravity causes a stone to sink through the water in a pond. In this same way, the mind is spontaneously and naturally drawn deep inside during the Transcendental Meditation technique, independent of what may be going on with the breath.

Personalized Instruction--The technique of Transcendental Meditation is easy and effortless. It is also unique and profound. Because each person has different experiences during their Transcendental Meditation course and also learns at a different pace, personal instruction by a certified Transcendental Meditation teacher is vital. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of the Transcendental Meditation technique, in his book The Science of Being and Art of Living, explains it like this: “The practice of Transcendental Meditation must always be given by the expert teachers of Transcendental Meditation who have been properly trained to give it and who have been trained to check the experiences. The checking of experiences is a vital point in the practice of Transcendental Meditation. Again, it cannot be done through books”.

I learned the Transcendental Meditation technique from a certified teacher when I was a senior in high school in 1971. Since then it has given me thousands of hours of inner peace and tranquility. It has made me a better person and a more effective human being. I hope that you will also have the opportunity to enjoy it soon!

For more information call 888-LearnTM or visit http://www.TM.org or http://adventuresintranscendentalmeditation.blogspot.com/


® Transcendental Meditation, TM and Maharishi are registered or common law trademarks licensed to Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation and are used under sublicense.

Paul McCartney‘s Concert for the Transcendental Meditation Program

Sir Paul McCartney, one of the most famous and successful pop artists of all time performed a benefit concert at Radio City Music Hall on New York City on Saturday, April 4, 2009. This once in a lifetime event provided financial support to the David Lynch Foundation’s international initiative to teach one million at-risk youth the Transcendental Meditation technique—and change the world overnight. Paul appeared with Ringo and a host of other famous musicians and friends including Donovan, Eddie Vedder, Sheryl Crow, Paul Horn and Ben Harper.

The famous 60’s songsmith Donovan treated the audience to songs like “Hurdy Gurdy Man” and "Season of the Witch" that were inspired by his practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique.

I attended the concert and the cast of legendary musicians flowed through set after set of inspiring rock and roll with many artists making guest appearances on songs for others. During the many stage set ups David Lynch, Laura Dern, Howard Stern and Jerry Seinfeld added comments and comedy on the positive influence Transcendental Meditation has had in their lives. Background film clips of youngsters in schools around the world who practice TM gave us hope for a new era of peace and happiness.

The David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace was founded in July 2005 and its purpose is to provide scholarships for the Transcendental Meditation program and its implementation into schools throughout the United States and around the world. This effort, spear headed by long time TM practitioner, and famous Hollywood director David Lynch, was inspired by the need to support TM’s proven scientific benefit in the areas of creativity, intelligence, academic performance, ADHD, anxiety, depression and substance abuse.

Last February while standing in a long line in San Francisco I, quite by accident, found myself talking with David Lynch. At that time David conveyed to me that every child should have 15 minutes per day to dive within and experience the field of silence—the enormous reservoir of energy and intelligence that nourishes all aspects of our lives. "The Transcendental Meditation technique, he says, "this is the way to save the coming generation."

Article by: Dr. Keith DeBoer

For more info: http://www.davidlynchfoundation.org/concert.html, http://www.tmbusiness.org/

® Transcendental Meditation, TM and Maharishi are registered or common law trademarks licensed to Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation (a non-profit) and are used under sublicense.

Transcendental Meditation and Other Relaxation Techniques

The Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique is unique for many reasons. But the most important one is that it provides more benefit than other meditation and relaxation techniques. This was the conclusion of a meta-analysis of 597 studies of meditation practices that was published in the American Journal of Health Promotion. This study found that the Transcendental Meditation program was significantly superior to other forms of meditation and relaxation in a wide range of criteria related to mental and physical health.

A second meta-analysis, published in the Journal of Social Behavior Personality, found the effect of the TM technique on self-actualization (growth towards one’s total potential) to be markedly greater than that of other forms of meditation and relaxation.

The TM technique is a unique practice both in its procedure and in the depth and scope of its benefits for the mind and body. Research studies have shown a positive correlation between the technique and a wide variety of benefits.

In the field of physical health alone, research has shown improvement in lung function for patients with asthma, reduction of high blood pressure, younger biological age, decreased insomnia, reduction of high cholesterol, reduced illness and medical expenditures, decreased outpatient visits, decreased cigarette smoking, decreased alcohol use and decreased anxiety, to name a few. Here are a few of the studies:

Allen, C.P. Effects of Transcendental Meditation, electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback relaxation, and conventional relaxation on vasoconstriction, muscle tension, and stuttering: A quantitative comparison. Dissertation Abstracts International 40(2): 689B, 1979.
Gaylord, C. et al.

The effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique and progressive muscle relaxation on EEG coherence, stress reactivity, and mental health in black adults. International Journal of Neuroscience 46: 77–86, 1989.

Wilson, AF., Honsberger, R., Chiu, JT., Novey, HS. "Transcendental Meditation and asthma." Respiration, 1975, 74-80, Hypertension 26: 820–827, 1995, International Journal of Neuroscience 16: 53–58, 1982, Journal of Counseling and Development 64: 212–215, 1985, Journal of Human Stress 5: 24-27, 1979, The American Journal of Managed Care 3: 135–144, 1997, The American Journal of Managed Care 3: 135–144, 1997, Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 13–87, 1994, Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 13–87, 1994, Journal of Clinical Psychology 45: 957–974, 1989

For more info:

http://www.davidlynchfoundation.org/research/scientific-evidence-that-the-program-works.html, or http://www.doctorsontm.org/

® Transcendental Meditation, TM and Maharishi are registered or common law trademarks licensed to Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation and are used under sublicense.

Transcendental Meditation: Is It Science or Religion?

There is a rumor on the internet that the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique is a religion. Nothing could be further from the truth. The TM program has been funded by 24 million dollars in federal grants over the past 20 years. These projects have included TM’s research and/or implementation in health facilities, schools, universities, research facilities, probation programs and prison settings around the USA. This would not be possible if the TM program was considered by the government to be religious in any way.
In addition the Transcendental Meditation technique does not conflict with religious beliefs because it has nothing to do with belief. It does not even require that one believe that it will work in order for one to be successful in the practice. There are thousands of priests, nuns, rabbis and Buddhist monks who practice the TM technique and find that it enhances their respective religious beliefs.

At the same time, it is true, that some 30 years ago, there was a federal court case in the state of New Jersey which deemed the Federal Department of Education’s funding of a curriculum in “The Science of Creative Intelligence” to be an unconstitutional entanglement of the government with religion. This was due to the claim that the concept of “Creative Intelligence”, or unified field of consciousness, was somehow a religious concept. (Malnak v. Yogi, 592 F2d 197, 1979).

However, the TM technique itself was never declared by the court to be religious in nature. To emphasize this point Judge Adams stated that his ruling prohibited government funding for the Science of Creative Intelligence and “not a course in TM alone”. In particular Judge Adams felt that TM was non religious because the TM instruction ceremony was “performed only once in the case of each student; it was entirely in Sanskrit with neither the student nor, apparently, the teacher who chanted it, knowing what the foreign words meant.” Malnak v. Yogi, 592 F.2d 197, 203 (3rd Cir., 1979

Furthermore many constitutional scholars believe that this isolated ruling, which judged even the concept of Creative Intelligence to be religious, was in error. For example, Laurence H. Tribe, professor at Harvard Law School and legal advisor to President elect Barack Obama, strenuously objected to the court’s conclusion. It is for this reason that no court, anywhere in the world, has ever come to the same or similar conclusion. Furthermore, since the New Jersey court case of 1979, hundreds of research studies on the TM technique have validated its mechanical, repeatable, secular nature and created widespread public acceptance of its benefits.

Transcendental Meditation is a simple, natural, effortless technique that is practiced for 20 minutes twice a day sitting comfortably at home. Over 500 scientific studies have validated the benefits of the practice which has been taught around the world to millions of people during the past 50 years.

Here’s what Dr. Steele Belok, Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has to say about TM: “In my medical practice, I have found that people of all religions enjoy the Transcendental Meditation technique. Indeed, patients tell me that TM practice deepens their spiritual understanding because it refreshes their mind and awakens subtler values of awareness.”

For more information: http://www.doctorsontm.org/, http://www.tmbusiness.org/

Transcendental Meditation and Religious Belief

"Maharishi has explained that the value of all religious holidays, rituals, and prayers is to help us align our individual intelligence with the Cosmic Intelligence that governs everything in the universe with perfect order," says Dr. Evan Finkelstein, professor of Maharishi Vedic Science at Maharishi University of Management (M.U.M.). Dr. Finkelstein has been reading the scriptures of different religions for 37 years.

As Maharishi wrote in Science of Being and Art of Living, "All the rituals of the various religions are like the body, and the practice of Transcendental Meditation is like the spirit. Both are necessary, they should go hand in hand." (p. 251). In addition, Maharishi, the founder of the TM technique, has explained that for religious people, the experience of the source of thought or 'pure consciousness', will result in a stronger appreciation of their religion and a deeper understanding of their scriptures and the scriptures of all religions. They will begin to experience the Unity that harmonizes all the differences and this will result in peace and fulfillment.

Rabbi Alan Green of Beth Israel Synagogue in Winnipeg, Manito says that "Transcendental Meditation has made me a better rabbi because it has given me an experience and insight into the profound depths of life."

The Transcendental Meditation technique (TM) is an effortless mental procedure whereby an individual experiences increasingly quieter levels of thinking and then the source of thought, deep within the mind. To accomplish this TM utilizes a thought or mantra that has a sound quality but has no meaning attributed to it. To allow the mind to sink to deeper levels of thinking and experience; the silent source of thought within, the TM technique utilizes a harmonious sound or mantra which is selected by each TM teacher based on its suitability for each TM student.

The TM technique comes from the Vedic Tradition. This ancient Vedic tradition has its origin in India and is the oldest continuous tradition of knowledge on earth. In 2003 it was recognized by UNESCO as a masterpiece of heritage to humanity. It is a universal body of complete and timeless knowledge encompassing the total field of natural law (underlying intelligence) that governs the entire universe.

For this reason there are many names, traditions and principals of the ancient Vedic tradition found in various countries, cultures and religions around the world. The TM technique is derived from the Vedic tradition of ancient India. This technique, over thousands of years, had become distorted and lost its effectiveness. It was then revived in the 1950's, to its original and highly effective form, by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who is the custodian and representative of the Vedic tradition in our generation.

You can find out more about Transcendental Meditation by visiting http://www.doctorsontm.org/ or http://www.tmbusiness.org/, http://www.mum.edu/

Match Point: Transcendental Meditation and Tennis

Our athletes play in the ‘zone’ because they live there” says Lawrence Eyre, the award winning coach of the Pioneers tennis team of Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment in Fairfield Iowa. Mr. Eyre started the Pioneers team in 1988 and since then has led them to the Final Four in the Iowa team tourney 11 times. In his twenty-one seasons, his players have earned 16 state championships. “Our mottos are train without strain and invest in rest”, says Eyre. He attributes his players’ achievements to their group practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique (TM), which creates a foundation for their dynamic activity and gives them a competitive edge.

In 1999 and 2000, under Mr. Eyre’s guidance, the Maharishi School boys’ team achieved the unprecedented: they captured consecutive “triple crowns” by winning the singles, doubles and team tennis titles at the Iowa I-A state championships. http://www.maharishischooliowa.org/

Research shows that the TM technique improves performance by strengthening the skills of concentration, mind-body co-ordination, reaction time, speed and agility. TM also reduces anxiety and tension in the mind and body making an athlete more controlled and disciplined and therefore more likely to achieve peak performance. In addition many athletes experience the ill effects of sleep deprivation and jet lag when traveling to meets and competitions. The TM technique provides a level of metabolic rest that is deeper than sleep, allowing the athletes body to recover faster from travel and other stresses. An lastly, the TM technique dissolves stress that accumulates from intensive training, competition and injuries and reduces recovery time.

So if you want to make your athletic home ‘in the zone’ we recommend you check out the Transcendental Meditation technique at http://tmbusiness.org/ and http://www.doctorsontm.org/

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a simple mental technique that is practiced sitting comfortably for 20 minutes twice a day. It is unique and different from other types of meditation in that does not involve any concentration and contemplation. For this reason it is easy and enjoyable instead of difficult and tedious like other forms of meditation. It must be learned by a certified TM teacher through a standardized one week course. There is a substantial fee but low interest financing and scholarships are available through the TM movement which is a non-profit, educational organization.

®Transcendental Mediation and TM are registered trademarks of Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation.

Maharishi Vedic Architecture: The Universe is Your Living Room, Part II

NOTE: THIS IS PART II --- to read PART I look just below this article

Now let's get down to the details of how Natural Law is reflected in a building. Vastu Vidya; that aspect of Maharishi Sthapatya Veda that contains the complete knowledge of the design and structure of building in harmony with Natural Law. Such a design promotes positive, evolutionary influences and success in life. To create an ideal Vastu (a building design according to Natural Law) one must consider the many items that determine auspicious and inauspicious influences. Some of these items include: orientation of the building, the placement of rooms, the proportions and Vedic measurements, the slope and shape of the land, exposure to the rising sun, location of nearby bodies of water and the buildings or activities in the nearby environment.

Proper Orientation or Direction-- Orientation is determined by the path of the sun. Each direction has its specific quality and relevance. To orient a building toward a certain direction brings the qualities of that direction to the building and its inhabitants. When one is facing east, the brain physiology functions differently than when one is facing north, south, or west. According to the latest research in neuroscience, brain cells fire according to orientation. The firing patterns of neurons in the thalamus of the brain are altered according to the direction one is facing. This alteration influences every aspect of brain functioning and the entire physiology. This natural tendency of the brain to function with reference to direction is the same law of Maharishi Sthapatya Veda that guides the structuring dynamics of creation and the proper orientation of a home or office. The main entrance of such a building faces due east because this direction has the very desirable influences of enlightenment, affluence and fulfillment. The other three cardinal directions also have their corresponding influences. The west direction for example has the influence of poverty and lack of vitality and creativity. The north direction has the influence of prosperity and happiness and the south direction has the influence of negativity, problems and suffering. Although it is not commonly known, many misfortunes and even diseases arise from lack of proper orientation of homes and buildings. For example, according to Maharishi Sthapatya Veda architecture a south facing entrance is inauspicious and brings negative influences to the inhabitants of the building.

Proper Placement-- This is also an important principle to consider. Everything in nature has its right place, whether moving or immovable. When the kitchen, dining room, living room and bedroom are in their proper places, Natural Law becomes more supportive to the cycle of the daily activities performed there. As the sun moves across the sky, it radiates different qualities of energy that produce specific influences in different parts of the house. In Maharishi Sthapatya Veda architecture buildings are designed so that these energies correspond to the specific activities performed within the different rooms of a building. In a home for example the dining room is located where the digestion will be most healthy and the study is located where the intellect will be most lively. In this way the cause of stress which otherwise might give rise to some discomfort or disease is eliminated. When a house for a particular individual is being planned, the placement and dimensions of the rooms as well as the length, width and elevation of the building are individually calculated using the ancient mathematical formulas of Vastu Vidya of Maharishi Sthapatya Veda. These Vedic formulas take into consideration, among other factors, the relationship of the house owner, with the sun, moon, planets and stars to ensure a perfect resonance between the Cosmic structures and all components of the house. The style of the house, it should be noted, is designed according to the local traditions, and the owner's individual tastes and/or requirements.

Proper Proportion-- The supreme rule for proper proportion is symmetry. Symmetry is perfect orderliness and in a symmetrical system every part is aware of its position in relation to any other part. In this way the wholeness is never lost. Everything in Nature is proportioned according to its function. Just as the human body is precisely proportioned so, too, there is an ideal proportion for every room in a home or office. Maharishi Sthapatya Veda architecture takes advantage of these Cosmic proportions reflected in the individual proportions of the human physiology and applies them to a building's structure. By incorporating this knowledge into each aspect, a Maharishi Sthapatya Veda architect brings rhythm, harmony and glory to every feature of the building.

I have visited many Maharishi Sthapatya Veda buildings in several states around the USA. Each time I am impressed anew with the silent and settled feeling in these structures. My emotions automatically feel better and thinking becomes happier and more profound. On a few occasions I have spent several days living one of these MSV homes and sleep is deeper and more restful. I hope that soon I too will be living in one full time so I can have the universe in my living room and enjoy increased health, happiness and good fortune it provides.

*Maharishi Vedic Architecture is an ancient science of architecture and building that has been revived by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi the founder of the Transcendental Meditation program. For more information see: http://www.vedicarchitecture.org/ or http://www.tmbusiness.org/