Imagine being able to reduce stress and achieve success in life by practicing an ancient meditation method.
Students, faculty and staff will be introduced to transcendental meditation tonight by Cary Davis, director of the Transcendental Meditation Program for Greater Columbus.
“Transcendental meditation is a simple, natural, mental method for developing a person’s full potential,” Davis said. “It is the full measure of a person’s energy, intelligence, creativity and capacity for happiness and fulfillment in life.”
“Consciousness, Creativity and the Brain – an introduction to transcendental meditation,” is being sponsored by Sy Kleinman, head of the somatic studies program in the College of Education.
Transcendental meditation is an ancient practice revived by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who began teaching it around the world 50 years ago, Davis said. Today, 6 million people practice it worldwide, including more than 7,000 in Ohio.
The method must be taught by a professional and costs $2,500 for the course, said Michael McCaffery, assistant director for the Transcendental Meditation Program for Greater Columbus.
The most basic transcendental meditation technique involves 20 minutes of meditation twice a day, he said.
“When a person sits down comfortably with their eyes closed, mentally their mind quiets down and goes beyond thinking and transcends to a level of pure consciousness,” Davis said.
This level of pure consciousness can also be referred to as “restful alertness,” a key term in transcendental meditation, he said. Restful alertness is a state when the mind and body experience deep rest while the mind is also being awakened to enlightenment, he said.
“This meditation is a preparation for activity,” Davis said. “It’s for the influence on how you think, feel and behave after meditation.”
Transcendental meditation helps improve an individual’s mental potential, health, behavior and relationships, and contributes to peace in the world, he said.
Kleinman, who has never practiced transcendental meditation, has read the scientific research and believes the method can help students succeed in their lives.
“People in that age group are under enormous pressures, … this practice seems to help students get through this,” he said. “It has a positive effect on one’s attitudes.”
The event will also provide information on scholarships for students who want to learn the technique, Kleinman said. The scholarships are offered by the David Lynch Foundation. Lynch, a film director, has been practicing transcendental meditation for 30 years. His foundation has offered scholarships around the country, including at the University of Michigan, to help students learn the technique.
The event will be held tonight in room 243 Arps Hall at 7:00 p.m.
