Kidstock with Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Moby, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Donovan and... David Lynch?
It won't be a Woodstock redux, and there'll be no moshing at New York City's Radio City Music Hall at 8pm, Saturday, April 4th, when Sir Paul McCartney and a star-studded roster of hipsters such as Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Moby, Ben Harper, and Sheryl Crow, along with Donovan, Paul Horn, The Beach Boys' Mike Love, a bunch of surprise guests, and hosts David Lynch, Russell Simmons, and Laura Dern appear on that historic stage. But under the David Lynch Foundation's banner of "Change Begins Within," this special benefit concert is intended to raise funds to teach one million children meditation--and that includes 10,000 at-risk students around the New York City area. "This concert will provide the support for kids to 'dive within'...to help overcome the stress and violence that is destroying their lives, and to unfold their full potential to become healthy, happy, creative individuals," the iconic filmmaker explained in a press release from just a few days back. His foundation already has awarded scholarships to more than 60,000 students across the United States as well as the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa.
And what is this meditation technique that David Lynch's organization has been promoting? Here are some hints: It was learned and popularized most famously by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Donovan, Mary Tyler Moore, Mia Farrow, Clint Eastwood, Heather Graham, Stephen Collins, and Deepak Chopra; over the years, it was embraced by millions in the United States, including hugely famous celebrities in entertainment, sports, politics, art, broadcasting, science, the medical field, education, and even religion; its famous teacher brought the technique to the West in 1958 with the intention of lowering the stress of both the individual and the planet; and since its introduction, it's impossible to not at least know someone who knows someone who practices the technique for 20 minutes twice a day. Okay, that last point gave it away, it's Transcendental Meditation, introduced to our society by the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who himself, had enjoyed incredible celebrity during the sixties and seventies when "TM" (as it's called) became embedded in US mainstream culture.
Mostly known for his highly-influential, artistic films such as Eraserhead, The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet, Dune, Mulholland Drive, Inland Empire, Wild at Heart, Lost Highway and the pop-culture phenomenon and television series, Twin Peaks, Lynch has dedicated most of his time to this cause. "In today's world of fear and uncertainty," he said, "every child should have one class period a day to dive within himself and experience the field of silence--'bliss'--the enormous reservoir of energy and intelligence that is deep within all of us." The end result? "Teach one million kids to meditate, and we will change the world overnight," he declared. Dr. William Stixrud, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist in Silver Spring, Maryland, who specializes in working with children, has researched the technique and its effect on the young mind. "I have been a big fan of using TM in schools for many years due in part to the program's unparalleled ability to create the experience of relaxed alertness in students, and to create learning environments in which students feel safe to tackle very difficult material and assignments," he explained. On a more publicized level, for decades, many in the medical community have recommended this particular form of meditation to lower stress, blood pressure, and to help combat addictions such as smoking and self-medication. Educators have found that it improves focus, reduces violent tendencies, reduces incidents of drug abuse, and improves the social interaction and overall behavior of students. Additionally, studies have found that practicing the technique (in what has been dubbed "quiet time") has improved academic performance while lowering stress, anxiety, and depression in students.
In New York City, where this concert will be performed, "Over one hundred schools...expressed interest in incorporating the Transcendental Meditation technique into their systems," Dr. John Hagelin, PhD, a quantum physicist, pointed out. He continued, "Extensive research on the benefits of the TM technique on student health and performance...contribute(s) to the wide acceptance of the program." In 2008, when Lynch held a one-day seminar on the subject for educators, they literally had to turn away scores of people from the hotel due to the overwhelming response and attendance. And if all of this sounds a bit too good to be true or too granola-esque for your taste, take into consideration that The National Institutes of Health has pledged grants in the amount of twenty-four million dollars over the last 20 years to study the TM technique's effects on heart and brain functioning. The entity has found the technique especially provides benefits against high blood pressure. Last year, in Parade Magazine, Dr. Mark Liponis wrote an article titled "Alternative Therapies That Really Work," within which he stated TM was the "most popular meditation practice" with "scientific backing" behind it that "passed the litmus test of rigorous medical inquiry."
So, this is what the "Change Begins Within" event is promoting, and what is being offered to our children by David Lynch and his organization--with the cooperation of parents and schools, of course, and with the initiative's endorsement by participating musicians of the benefit concert. It's the opportunity for any student, member of The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, etc., to become smarter and less-stressed by meditating--plain and simple. "I've been 'diving within' through the Transcendental Mediation technique for over thirty years," Lynch revealed. "It has changed my life, my world. I am not alone." He's right; you'd be surprised who is practicing the technique, probably even as you're reading this article. Now, if you can remember back to the days when TM first became the "it" child across this country's campuses, when The Beatles, Donovan, The Beach Boys, and so many others flew to Rishikesh to spend time with Maharishi, and if you can remember the waves of interest when Deepak Chopra touted its benefits on the lecture circuit, in books, and on TV shows, then you can see that there is something about TM that keeps it electric in the culture. It's no longer just your father's TM, though, yeah, it's exactly the same simple practice that's been taught for hundreds of years.
For most, this April 4th, Radio City Music Hall concert will be about the music, but its statement of solidarity and support for upliftment in education could be the beginning of yet another American wave of consciousness-raising. In our new Obama era of openness to all things that make us a more functional, successful society, this TM thing just might be a useful tool among many to get us there.
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This will be a great show. The new documentary, SCHOOL OF THOUGHT, will show you why these music superstars are doing this benefit concert at Radio City. The film is about Transcendental Meditation in schools and what the David Lynch Foundation is doing to bring meditation to students everywhere. Watch the first eight minutes of the movie for free at: www.perripictures.com
Officials at the David Lynch Foundation have now confirmed that Ringo Starr will be joining Paul McCartney as one of the featured performers at an historic benefit concert to be held at Radio City Music Hall on April 4, 2009.
http://adventuresintranscendentalmeditation.blogspot.com/
www.davidlynchfoundation.org
...which officially makes this an historic performance. Nicely done, Ringo!
One of the nicest things about TM is that it can be practiced by anyone, of almost any age, and of any denomination. There are Catholic priests and nuns who learn TM, but also Jewish rabbis, Muslims and pretty much every religion, or non- religion, one can think of. TM has been learned by over 5 million people worldwide! That's' probably because among the many benefits of TM, is the universal one of deep rest, which eliminates stress and fatigue. Which is something I know a lot about, I have a four year old boy who seems to have discovered the secret of perpetual motion, and I work from home; without those 20 minutes twice a day I don't know what I would do. Check out http://www.tmbusiness.org/about-tm/
A wonderful and thoughtful article, thank you! I've been practicing the TM technique and Yogic Flying for over 30 years and can't imagine how I would be able to juggle all the day-to-day whirlwind of a freelance musician's life without basking in the silence of the Unified Field twice a day. I give many concerts and produce many hours of recorded music each year for commercial release, and depend on a constant flow of creativity and imagination to keep my work at its peak, which TM has always provided. It has not in any way interfered with my religion; rather, it has given me a much deeper understanding of my connectedness to myself, my dear ones, my surroundings and the universe. What an amazing gift David Lynch is giving to this generation of students. Like others, I wish I had had this knowledge in my early teens when I was seeking so desperately for relief from the stress and pressures of school and the emotions of adolescence. Bravo to all involved in this magnificent tribute to Maharishi's knowledge and three cheers for Sir Paul, Donovan and the rest of the band.
“School of Thought,” a documentary being shown currently at the Boulder International Film Festival, goes right to the heart about why the April 4 concert can do so much good. In the documentary, Colorado filmmaker Tony Perri focuses on the Maharishi School in Fairfield, Iowa, a K-12 facility, that has won a ton of state and national academic excellence awards, far beyond the school’s small size. All the kids in the school have one thing in common: they meditate. Perri also features a Washington D.C. inner city school that introduced Transcendental Meditation to its students. “People have got to see what's going on here,” he said in an interview. “They have to see that just being quiet for twenty minutes in the morning and the afternoon can make a world of difference in a very positive way. So yes, that’s the reason I made the movie, that's the reason I want people to see it. I want them to see how simple and easy it is to sort of de-stress a school. And the ramifications of less stress runs the gamut -- all the way from less violence and less drug use.” Perri, by the way, does not practice Transcendental Meditation.
This is great news. Thanks for keeping us informed. I have been practicing TM for the past 37 years and absolutely love the peace and calm it creates in my mind and body. That Paul McCartney and David Lynch are supporting the work to eliminate stress in our schools is a testament to the fact that these men are much bigger than just their movies and music. So hats off to Paul and David and all the other artists who will be participating in this musical event. I know that the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi appreciated both of these men very much. And they, in turn, have helped to make his Transcendental Meditation not only known around the world, but actually practiced by millions of people on every continent. Successful programs like TM will attract a few naysayers, but more than 600 scientific studies attest to the value of the technique in helping people to simply enjoy life more than ever before.
Here is what happens during Transcendental Meditation: The technique allows the mind to settle inward beyond thinking, to experience PURE AWARENESS, the source of thought, also known as transcendental consciousness. This is the most silent and peaceful level of consciousness -- one's innermost Self. In this restfully alert state, the brain has been shown to function with significantly greater coherence than in sleep or ordinary waking state. That silent, transcendental, holistic experience has been described by the great minds of all civilizations, from ancient Vedic seers to Taoist masters, from Greek philosophers to Christian saints, from Thoreau to Mother Theresa. It is a universal experience which connects all beings. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has brought to the west the powerful ancient Vedic techniques which describe how to develop this state of consciousness in a systematic, safe, and effective way.
The superior person settles his mind
as the universe settles the stars in the sky.
By connecting his mind with its subtle origin,
he calms it.
Once calmed, it naturally expands,
and ultimately his mind become as vast and immeasurable
as the night sky.
-- Lao Tsu
David Lynch Foundation has raised millions over the years to fund TM school programs. Over 40,000 schoolchildren have learned thanks to DLF. Worldwide, 140,000 schoolchildren practice TM. They almost all learned for free due to DLF (and General Motors/Chrysler), or funding from the TM organization.
Regarding the "Enlightenment Course," ragged on below, the fact that many successful, high-minded, self-made millionaires donated $1 million for this fundraiser course to support TM educational projects indicates how trusted this organization is.
The naysayer below refers to “tension” with the organization "over control of the vast fortune" he claims Maharishi amassed, "said to lie with his relatives." "Said" ? By whom? I work within this organize. I’ve never noted any such tension. This is gossip, plain and simple. And utterly false.
Maharishi was a monk. He began the TM Movement with his worldly possessions wrapped in a dear skin. He left this world with no more possessions than when he started.
Organizational funds may be transferred "offshore" because many of the international non-profit's projects are "off shore," such as supporting large groups of Vedic pandits in India and elsewhere who, thousands strong, meditate together daily and work silently for peace.
"Only100 people have learned TM annually in the US." Blatantly false.
But this one takes the cake: the desire "to control world events" is "at the heart of TM course offerings." Insane!
A negative mind sees only negativity.
At the heart of TM is pure, innocent silence.
McCartney Letter (2of2)
effectively uphold world consciousness on an eternal level of invincibility”, and "Our government is desperate for the peaceful, coherent national consciousness that only we can provide," and “a series of large yogic flying assemblies in Fairfield during the 1980s led to a measurable and marked softening of relations between the superpowers, culminating in the sudden and unexpected ending of the Cold War. John Hagelin, the assembly's organizer, said that since the number of daily meditators in Maharishi Vedic City reached about 1,200 on July 23 2008, the Dow Jones Industrial Index has hit record levels. Once the 2,000 meditators are in place for the assembly called Invincible America (which in fact occurred in September 2008), Hagelin predicts the Dow will surge toward 15,000”. If only this were either not true, or irrelevant, but alas it is at the heart of the TM program course offerings. These hubristic claims are meant to confirm the special ness and importance of a very small group convinced of its power to control world events. They don’t need more money to begin teaching students; what they do need is honesty and perspective.
I love music, I love a party, and I love Paul. While I am sure that McCartney and the other musicians are well intentioned, and while their personal philanthropic acts are not subject to any outside review, I would urge them to consider taking reasonable steps to ensure that their generosity is as well placed as it is intended.
Paul McCartney Charity Concert Open Letter (1of2)
A donor should ask how much of a charity’s funds are spent on their mission and how much are retained. The David Lynch Foundation for Education is a new foundation hoping to raise $600 each for one million students to learn TM meditation. That would be $600 million dollars for the organization that teaches Maharishi’s TM. That organization should be asked for audited financials. Only a few years ago Maharishi rose well in excess of $100 million dollars by charging over 100 of his wealthiest followers one million dollars each for a one month “Enlightenment Course”. Where do those funds now lie or on what were they spent? Who administers those funds, and under what guidelines?
Maharishi recently died and sources within the TM organization refer to tension over control of the vast fortune he amassed, said to lie with his relatives, and its availability, or not, to organizations promoting meditation. Funds have been transferred to opaque offshore entities in tax haven jurisdictions, from which no information as to controller or disposition of funds has ever been offered. Guidestar.org lists the 2006 tax filing (latest available) for Maharishi Global Development Fund. In 2006 it transferred $38 million dollars to offshore accounts.
For over a decade only about 100 people have learned TM annually in the United States. To understand why there is little or no demand for TM see "TM Yogic Flying and Maharishi Yagyas are the only thing that will
Hats off to Sir Paul, Donovan, and David Lynch, for bringing such a great thing to our schools! I’d like to remind readers that the effectiveness of Transcendental Meditation is based on decades of solid research, conducted by independent researchers at leading institutions in many countries, and published by peer-reviewed journals with rigorous standards of scientific publication. The International Journal of Neuroscience, for example, which published several papers on the benefits of TM, has two Nobel laureates on its editorial board, and a distinguished group of scientists from leading universities on every continent who judge the scientific value of the papers submitted for consideration. Literally hundreds of research studies on TM have shown that Transcendental Meditation helps decrease anxiety and stress-related disorders, reduce substance abuse, increase brain coherence, increase intelligence, increase self-actualization, increase learning ability, improve memory, and many more. I recommend http://www.tmeducation.org/ for more details on research. This is something desperately needed in our schools.
My life has been bliss ever since I started TM 40 years ago. I wouldn't trade doing TM twice a day for anything!. How I wish I had had access to the Transcendental Meditation Program when I was a student in the public schools. The public school system made my life total misery. Just think what children today have to look forward to when they have TM---a life free from stress, a learning experience devoid of negative peer pressure, and total relief from having their creativity crushed or destroyed---their lives will be filled instead with energy, increased awareness, vitality, self-confidence and a true sense of accomplishment! Schools throughout Latin America are rapidly incorporating the TM Program as a profoundly effective antidote to stress and violence and as a way to deal with those children who suffer from learning disabilities. David Lynch is doing something no one else has ever tried to do! He's bringing the gift of self-sufficiency to the children and to the teachers of the entire world! Every child deserves the opportunity to learn in a stress-free environment and teachers everywhere deserve to enjoy this blessing in support of their teaching skills. I support the initiative to bring the Transcendental Meditation to every child, every teacher, every school administrator and every parent in every country in the world.
For the record:
Someone posted a comment saying that Ringo was going to appear at this event but I spoke ot a friend of mine who is an administrator for the David Lynch Foundation and he said that, at this point, any talk about Ringo"s involvement in the concert is just rumor, good hopes, and hearsay.
But Sir Paul and his friends are still gonna rock the house! Yowza!
My son who is five learned transcendental meditation last summer, and we have observed many positive changes in his behavior, his confidence and his intellectual curiosity, He had a problem with fear that has been greatly diminished. He does his "word of wisdom" for five minutes, twice a day.
All children should learn TM as a means to start developing their full potential.
One of the greatest things about this is that it will bring Transcendental Meditation to the attention of the world in a major way . I learned TM when I was a child, and it’s been great help to me in dealing with whatever comes in my direction. No matter what happens, I know that twice a day I will experience the deep silence within me, get that rest which is deeper than any sleep. Then my mind is clearer, stronger, I feel so much happier, and everything is easier to handle. TM helps me achieve the strength and clarity needed to deal with any situation and be successful. And if anyone is curious, here is a really good website http://www.tmbusiness.org/
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