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SPRING 2009 NEWSLETTER

A Newsletter for those interested in TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION by Roger Gurr 020 8224 7676 - THANKS FOR ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS. 

Transcendental Meditation seen promising as ADHD therapy.

Reference: ‘Current Issues in Education’, December 2008, Mon Jan 5, 2009 New York (Reuters Health)"The children also showed improvements in attention, working memory, organization, and behaviour regulation,"

The practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM) may help children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) manage their symptoms, research suggests.

In a pilot study, researchers found that lessons in Transcendental Meditation, or TM, appeared to calm the anxiety of children with ADHD, and improve their behaviour and ability to think and concentrate.

TM is considered to be one of the simplest meditation techniques. Practitioners sit comfortably for a few minutes with their eyes closed, silently repeating a mantra -- a sound, word or phrase -- to calm the mind and body. Some researchers believe that meditation affects the nervous system in a way that can alter a range of bodily functions, including breathing, blood vessel dilation and stress-hormone regulation.

The current findings indicate that children with ADHD can not only learn the TM technique but also benefit from it.  A 1.4million dollar follow on study is planned.

"The children also showed improvements in attention, working memory, organization, and behaviour regulation," she added.

The study included 10 children between the ages of 11 and 14 who were attending a school for students with language-related learning disabilities. All had been diagnosed with ADHD and, though most were taking medication, were having problems at school and home.

The students were taught Transcendental Meditation and then practiced it at school twice a day.

After three months, Grosswald and her colleagues found, the students reported lower stress and anxiety levels, while their ADHD symptoms also improved, based on questionnaires given to teachers and parents.

"Teachers reported they were able to teach more," Grosswald said, "and students were able to learn more because they were less stressed and anxious."

Larger studies, she and her colleagues write, are now needed to see whether TM can be used as an ADHD therapy, either in addition to standard treatment or by itself.

"TM doesn't require concentration, controlling the mind or disciplined focus," Grosswald noted. "The fact that these children are able to do TM, and do it easily shows us that this technique may be particularly well suited for children with ADHD."

A copy of this new research is available online at: http://cie.asu. edu/volume10/ number2/   See also ADHD & TM for adults at; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7907242.stm

Donovan credits the influence of Maharishi 

In a recent article in HealthyWealthynWise.com music legend Donovan, credits the influence of  Maharishi Mahesh Yogi with helping him stay connected to the harmony, happiness, and love that flow from the heart. Donovan, a top recording artist, met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1968 and learned TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION along with other famous artists such as the Beatles and Mike Love of the Beach Boys. The article related the many creative aspects of Donovan's career, including how he was influenced by poetry, art, music, and spirituality.  Donovan recalled a talk by Maharishi on the importance of the heart, ‘It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble, how great the mistake, sufficient realization of love will resolve it all. If you could only love enough, you would be the happiest and most powerful being in the world,' Maharishi said.

Today Donovan is fulfilling his 40-year interest in TM by heading up the musical wing of the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace. The singer-poet will soon be returning to the stage for a world tour.  Source: healthywealthynwise.com

Paul MCcartney in CONCERT

Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Sheryl Crow, Moby, and more will perform at Radio City Music Hall in New York on April 4 in a benefit to make TM available to a million students. MUM

The Elixir to a Longer Life

The Washington Post reported recently that: The 'elixir' to a longer life includes exercise, healthy eating, and stress-reduction through TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION. Heart experts agree that keeping blood pressure below 120/80 lowers the risk of heart disease and increases the chance of a long life.

The Washington Post listed the following points to help avert high blood pressure:  Eat fruits and vegetables  'One study showed that people who reduced the fat in their diet to 26 percent and increased fruit, juices and vegetables to 9.6 servings a day cut their systolic blood pressure by 5.5 points and diastolic blood pressure by three points.' Exercise 'Regular exercise, such as brisk walking for 30 minutes most days, can drop your systolic blood pressure by four to nine points.'

A 2008 review of nine studies found that Transcendental Meditation reduced systolic blood pressure by 4.7 points and diastolic blood pressure by 3.2 points.'  Source: Washington Post  globalgoodnews

Lynch plans feature film on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

   Film Director David Lynch plans to make a feature length film on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The film will have three main sections.

The first documenting Maharishi's life, his beginnings, world travels and relationship with Guru Dev. Dr Lynch plans to visit India to gather footage of key locations in Maharishi’s life, including his birthplace, Jyotir Math, Uttarkashi, and Rameshwaram.

The second phase will use computer graphics to illustrate in 3D the main principles of Maharishi's teachings, topics such as the Unified Field, higher states of consciousness, discovery of the Veda in the human physiology, the mechanics of Yogic Flying, and brain evolution through practice of Transcendental Meditation.

The third section will focus on how Maharishi’s programs have altered the trends of time, looking at changes in political and economic collective consciousness brought about through group practice of Yogic Flying and TM. globalgoodnews

PEARLS OF WISDOM

The ego looks for what to criticize.

This always involves comparing with the past.

But love looks upon the world peacefully and accepts.

The ego searches for shortcomings and weaknesses.

Love watches for any sign of strength.

It sees how far each one has come and not how far he has to go.

How simple it is to love, and exhausting it is to always find fault,

For every time we see a fault we think something needs to be done about it.

Love knows that nothing is ever needed but more love.

It is what we do with our hearts that affects others most deeply.

It is not the movements of our body, or the words within our minds, that transmits love.

We love from heart to heart.

NOTHING IS NEW UNDER THE SUN

What difference does it make how much is laid away in a man’s safe or in his barns, how many heads of stock he grazes or how much capital he puts out for interest, if he is always after what is another’s and only counts what he has yet to get, never what he has already? You ask what a proper limit to a person’s wealth is. First having what is essential, and second having what is enough.” Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman statesman. Quoted at the: Andrew Simms2008 Schumacher North Lecture

. “To those nations like ourselves that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed and we must change with it....” US president Barack Hussein Obama, inaugural address 20 January 2009

It is desiring what one hasn’t, not materialism that makes one unhappy. The material world around us can be a great joy to us. We are unhappy on the conscious level alone, because the conscious mind is unaware of the ocean of bliss deep within. You may not always have that ocean of bliss, but think that way anyway and it will help it come.  It is the expansion of this happiness, this ocean of bliss deep within, into our daily waking lives that is the purpose o f creation.  After Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Transcendental meditation on the curriculum. Schools specializing in transcendental meditation could be opened under plans being considered by the government.  An extract from an article by Graeme Paton, Education Editor Daily Telegraph. From DT web site13 Feb. 2009. photo: pa

Pupils would meditate for 10 minutes twice a day in a move backers claim leads to increased creativity and improved intelligence.

Two schools - funded by the taxpayer - could be opened as part of Labour's flagship academies programme.

A private school specialising in transcendental meditation has held talks with officials in an attempt to sponsor and run the schools.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families refused to rule out the proposals, saying the academies scheme "allows for a diverse range of schools, each with its own ethos". A spokesman said the plan would be judged on its educational merits.

But the move has been condemned amid claims ministers should be focused on conventional teaching methods.

According to the Times Educational Supplement, plans are being led by the fee-paying Maharishi School in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, the only specialist TM school in the country.

Under the academies programme, schools are run by private sponsors independent of local authority control. They can set the curriculum, teacher pay and the structure of the school day.

It is the latest in a series of controversies over academy sponsors. In the past, an academy in the North-East has been criticised for teaching creationism.

Pupils at the proposed TM academies would do two 10-minute sessions of meditation a day, once in the morning and again in the afternoon. They would involve children sitting quietly at their desks with their eyes closed.

Schools would open an admissions policy for children of all faiths - and insist the meditation is not religious based.

Apart from the two sessions, the school would run along conventional lines.

Derek Cassells, head of the Maharishi School, told the TES: "At the moment we have just one small school, but I'm certain transcendental meditation can work on a bigger scale. The key factor is that the meditation will bring balance to the nervous system. This leads to greater creativity, intelligence and harmony, and better behaviour."

He added: "The whole understanding of this is that effective education begins with neurological and physiological balance. The best way to achieve that is with inner quietness, called restful alertness. TM is an effective way for children to create neurological balance and do better in school."

Mr Cassells has trained several state school teachers in the TM technique, including at Limeside Primary in Oldham. Helen Arya, the head teacher, said half of her staff now regularly meditate.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/4601937/Transcendental-meditation-on-the-curriculum-under-academy-plan.html

He was a great seer who saw the trends of time and a great yogi, a great thinker and a great general. He was in the highest state of consciousness as a great yogi. He was the greatest philosopher India has had since Shankara. He was a great general, he was a businessman, and he was everything.  And he attributed everything to his guru.

An extract from a talk by Dr Vernon Katze, a Sanskrit scholar, who assisted Maharishi in translating the Bhagavad-Gita. Vernon obtained his doctorate at Oxford under Dr.Radhakrishnan who became president of India.   

PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH BETWEEN 1972 & 1975

DEMONSTRATED ANXIETY & DEPRESSION CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED BY TM. 

Between 1972 & 75 fifteen independent studies, from five separate countries and eleven different research establishments, using a variety of scales confirmed significant decrease in anxiety and depression from the practice of TM. Other outcomes from research during this time were decreased; neuroticism, job turnover, climb orientation, irritability, inhibition, social alienation and emotional disturbance and  increased; job satisfaction, job performance, relations with supervisors and peers, self-actualization,  self reliance, self regard, capacity for intimate contact, tactfulness, ability to relate to others, care for others, acceptance of aggression, self esteem, satisfaction, ego strength, trust in others and optimism.  Re: ‘Success from Within’ by Jay B. Marcus.

appreciation of nature   As one continues the practice, one understands the deeper realities of life; one understands all the Laws of Nature. One understands that they are not only so very natural, but also so very beneficial.  Transcendental Meditation unlocks the inner experience, enabling one to transcend the mind into the Supreme Nature of Bliss and the awareness of one’s own Divinity.  This inner knowledge gives one the direct experience of the Truth.  This process goes on continuously, unfolding a higher and higher consciousness and reality.  This gives a profound insight to life, an appreciation of Nature and respect for all life.