A recent benefit concert for the David Lynch Foundation will help 1,000 at-risk children in Central Kentucky learn to meditate.
A benefit concert on Saturday brought together musical stars such as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Ben Harper, Sheryl Crow and Kentucky native Jim James of My Morning Jacket to support the David Lynch Foundation’s global initiative to teach one million at-risk kids how to meditate. A crowd of 6,000 attended the “Change Begins Within†benefit at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Part of the initiative includes funding from the David Lynch Foundation for 1,000 kids in the Central Kentucky area. The organization is named for the movie director and supports efforts to teach children around the world how to use Transcendental Meditation, or TM.TM is a simple technique to allow a person’s mind to settle down naturally, according to the Web site, (www.tm.org). More than five million people worldwide have learned the TM technique, which is not specific to any religion or age group.
In Lexington, anyone can learn the TM technique at the Maharishi Peace Palace, which offers free introductory lectures as well as further instruction to learn a seven-step program.
During a press conference Tuesday, director of the Maharishi Peace Palace Jeffry Murphy introduced some of the 16 local professionals and educators who practice TM that attended the “Change Begins Within†benefit.
Mary Murphy, co-director of the Maharishi Peace Palace, said the TM technique “increases the bliss factor of life†by reducing the negative effects of stress.
“TM allows you to live to your full potential,†she said.
Currently, funds from the David Lynch Foundation just support programs for elementary and high school students. However those who practice the TM technique encourage people of all ages to learn to use meditation to decrease stress.
“After I learned to meditate, it was like someone had lifted a fog from my mind,†said Deborah Knittel, a former teacher who did not learn the TM technique until after college.
Knittel said she would have been much more successful in school if only she had known the benefits of practicing TM during college.
In a 5-year study by conducted in part by American University saw improvements in physical, mental and social health of students who learned the TM technique compared to those who did not, Murphy said.
Former UK art professor Tricia Spencer, who has practiced TM for 40 years, said she saw the impact meditation has on creativity and stress, especially among her students.
“I noticed an instant transformation in students’ behavior in class when hearing something like this technique was possible,†Spencer said.
To learn more about the Transcendental Meditation technique, visit the Maharishi Peace Palace for a free introductory lecture on Wednesdays at 7:45 p.m. or Saturdays at 2 p.m. or visit www.lexingtonpeacepalace.org.
The concert was fantastic (and was recorded for PBS) as this 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. A charming and delightful evening that transcended all my expectations! http://www.tm.org
Thanks for this great article on the Paul McCartney concert. I was at the concert and it was beyond expectation – simply wonderful. And in support of the great cause to bring Transcendental Meditation to “at-risk” children in schools. I have been doing TM for many years and know first-hand of its great effect in reducing stress. Well done David Lynch, and thanks to all involved.
It’s important to understand that TM as a technique and the TM Org as a movement are not what they’re being presented as. Nor, for that matter is the quite dubious TM research, which is often biased, exaggerated or pilot studies being hyped as significant. TM has a long history of negative side effects and is religious, requiring participation in a Hindu initiation ceremony that is commonly used to invokes Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The mantras themselves as seed words for Hindu Goddesses!
An affidavit from 1986, by a former TM teacher, details just some of the facts behind this organization and it’s meditation technique:
“The consequences of intensive, or even regular, meditation was so damaging and disruptive to the nervous system, that students could not enroll in, or continue with, regular academic programs.” Finally DeNaro clearly believed that the Maharishi personally knew of, and was therefore responsible for, the damage being done in the name of his organizations. “[He] was aware, apparently for some time, of the problem, suicide attempts, assaults, homicidal ideation, serious psychotic episodes, depressions, inter alia[among others], but his general attitude was to leave it alone or conceal it because the community would lose faith in the TM movement. Maharishi had a very cavalier, almost elitist, view about very serious injuries and trauma to meditators. His basic attitude towards the concealment of the religious nature of TM was: ‘When America is ready for Hinduism I will tell them.’”
Schools interested in meditation would be better off using nonsectarian types of meditation or stress reduction which are often taught for free and have some solid science behind them and none of the eastern cultural baggage disguised as secular and scientific in order to sell the product to our schools.
Please see also this letter for Americans United for the Separation of Church and State:
http://blog.au.org/2009/04/06/transcending-the-constitution-why-tm-doesnt-belong-in-public-schools-even-if-ringo-wants-it/
It’s great to see so many big-name celebs out for the David Lynch Foundation and the Paul McCartney concert. I attended and can say it was an absolutely spectacular show! This project to teach one million children Transcendental Meditation is a big one, but very important and worthwhile. I have been meditating for years, and I know how powerful this technique is and what positive impact this would have on these kids lives. Best of luck David Lynch and team!
I am a full time Artist/Educator. I have been working in the field of education since I was 16 and was employed as an assistant in an after school child care program. I have taught at the elementary, middle and secondary school levels as well as University. My current work is focused on developing community art education and outreach programs with art museums across the United States by offering workshops for adults in Watercolor and Oil. Children’s workshops are a mix of painting, mixed media and sculpture classes. I also practice TM and an advanced program called the TMSidhi program.
I had the privilege and opportunity to attend the benefit concert, “Change Begins Within†for the David Lynch Foundation which offers TM to at risk kids in our school systems. The concert reunited Paul McCartney, Ringo Star and a host of other celebrities; Howard Stern, Moby, Ben Harper, Laura Dern, Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Vedder, Sheyl Crow, Donovan, Mike Love, and Betty LaVette and a host of other talented musicians who all offered their creative and artistic voices in support of this dynamic, life changing program. All expressed their gratitude to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for introducing them to their practice of TM. The concert was the experience of a lifetime. Juxtaposed between great music and humor were film presentations on the dramatic effects of TM on students, teachers, principals and parents in some of the roughest schools in our country. As students began to meditate results were seen almost immediately. Grade scores improved, violent crime was eliminated, and a greater sense of calm pervaded the classroom, school and surrounding community.
I believe TM is the one program that will save the creative thought process in this country. The arts are the first programs to be cut when a new theory for education is introduced or there is a lack of funds. Art teachers in the public schools work off a 2×3 ft. cart and are responsible for visiting 5 schools in a week depending on the size of the school district. I have also worked in areas of our country through community outreach programs offered by the local art centers and art museums, where art programs have been eliminated due to current ideological banter amongst politicians as to which programs will most benefit our kids and make them the world’s next great scientists and world leaders. But I have to ask, without the experience of contacting that unbounded field of creative intelligence through the practice of TM how will the next generation have the fundamental creativity to bring new ideas forward to tackle the challenges of our world?
TM is a process that enlivens our creativity by reaching into that vast field of quietness and silence that occurs when we sit to meditate. We rest in that profound field of inner creative intelligence that lies within the heart of every artist, scientist, mathematician, engineer, architect, educator and student. I have taught in University art studios where students work two jobs and take more than 20 hours of class time. (The suggested optimum number of hours for art students is 12). I have had students lay down on studio tables with a jacket over their head, emotionally exhausted by the stress they experience trying to balance work and school. Imagine what would happen if students were able to sit for 10 or 15 minutes twice a day and rest within that field of inner silence and creativity! Stress and anxiety does not provide our students with any artistic advantages. This is a great misunderstanding that pervades the art world. Creative intelligence does not manifest because of pressure, depression and emotional dysfunction. AS we see now creative intelligence manifests in spite of the stress and pressure we face everyday in our world. When I begin a painting, drawing or piece of jewelry my internal artistic processes are full of a sense of joy due to the pure field of unbounded silence I experience when I meditate.
I am grateful to Maharishi, who brought Transcendental Meditation to the west during a time of great unrest in our country. I have benefited from my practice for most of my life. I am also grateful to David Lynch and the artists who came together to speak in one, unified voice in support of TM which will save our children’s creative spirit.
eye-opening
website:
– http://guruphiliac.blogspot.com/
scroll midway down
the webpage
for info. –
(DAVID) “LYNCH TAKES ASSAULT ON 1ST AMENDMENT
TO KENTUCKY”:
Why the “transcendental meditation” religious-political
organization is not appropriate for public schools.
quote from a TM Organization proselytizer –
“because David Lynch pays for it,
it’s O.K. to have in public schools”
SAY WHAT?
How about if the Pope or Pat Robertson
– or Scientology or Rev. Moon or Chabad
or Nichiren (“Nam Myoho Renge Kyo”) –
would like to fund a program
targeting public schools
to be implemented in every classroom
of those public schools
during the academic school-time schedule ???
- – - – - -
Transcending The U.S. Constitution? —
Why the “Transcendental Meditation” (TM)
religious-political group
DOESN’T Belong In Public Schools –
see a recent article written by Rob Boston
at the website of the highly respected organization
“AMERICANS UNITED FOR THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE” –
http://blog.au.org/2009/04/06/transcending-the-constitution-why-tm-doesnt-belong-in-public-schools-even-if-ringo-wants-it/
*** =========================
TM ploy –
proselytize in disguise
see insightful website
providing background info. about TM,
religious factors, U.S. court rulings, etc. –
http://www.behind-the-tm-facade.org/transcendental_meditation-religion.htm
- – - – -
Ruling of the United States District Court:
Transcendental Meditation was ruled a religion by the U.S. District Court,
District of New Jersey, Docket No. 76-341 (H.C.M.) Civil Action, in the case of Alan B. Malnak. et al., Plaintiffs, v. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, et al., Defendants, in a summary judgment issued October 19, 1977, followed by an order and judgment, filed December 12, 1977. This federal ruling was subsequently upheld in 1979 by the U.S. Appeals Court (Philadelphia).
- – - – -
note: Students & school district staff are fully capable
of implementing secular meditation, visualization, mindfulness
or other well-researched & medically recommended
stress-reduction strategies/techniques –
without the involvement of a
religious-political cult, such as TM
that has a fascist framework and
(historic & current) pattern of deceptive tactics.
_____