Meditating With One Million Children

Today, I had the absolute pleasure to join David Lynch, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Donovan, Mike Love and many others in joining in the visionary work of the David Lynch Foundation who are hard at work chasing the dream of bringing meditation to a million students worldwide.

The daily practice of meditation is precious to me. It's in the stillness and the silence that I am able to make sense of the world and the creative possibilities that help me do better in all aspects of my life.

Young people are our most precious natural resource, and we must do all we can to give them tools that will help them stay focused and positive. Stress is everywhere, in the streets and the classroom. There's a mountain of scientific data that supports the fact that consciousness-based education and having quiet time at the beginning and end of the school day improves academic performance and spills over to happier and healthier young people at home.

I wish I could be at the concert tomorrow night at Radio City Music Hall, but I will be at the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, where Run DMC will inducted. However, my thoughts and meditations will be with the David Lynch Foundation as they continue their incredible work.

www.davidlynchfoundation.org

Comments

[editorjuno]

The TM organization is definitely rather cultish -- not quite as frighteningly so as Scientology, but all the classic tendencies are there, including near-worship of the founder and heavily religious symbolism. Educators looking to introduce children to meditation would do well to work with a secular advocacy group like The Meditation Society Of America instead: http://www.meditationsociety.com/

[johnsopinion]

Hello Russell.

"It's in the stillness and the silence that I am able to make sense of the world and the creative possibilities that help me do better in all aspects of my life."

That is because meditation, in that stillness, in that silence, helps put you in touch with you,
who you are, what you want to do, where you want to go and why.

It's a beautiful world.

Thanks.

[atombee]

I have an old friend who has been a serious TM meditator - at least an hour a day - for forty years. I will not eat in a restaurant with him because he treats the wait-staff so rudely, like they are less than human, that I am afraid they will spit in my food as well as his.
Meditation by itself changes little.
Nothing wrong with it, I do mine in the form of playing and making music, but to make a big deal about it and claim that it will bring world peace is ridiculous. Just ask any waiter/waitress who has waited on my old friend.

[Vajara]

For sure, just because one says he is meditating, doesn't mean that he/she is meditating. I suspect your friend (and, why have such a bully friend?) is only trapped in his illusions, beliefs and judgments, like most of us. But, children are more able to meditate as it comes natural for them. They already have an open mind (no identity) and have fewer beliefs, if any, at these early ages. They also are curious and interested in learning and playing within the mind. Most adults are far too serious and rigid to experience the positive and healthy benefits of meditation. Who was it who said? "Leave those kids Alone!!!"

[voodoomonkey]

The Relaxation Response is OK but hundreds of studies show that it is entirely different physiologically from TM. RR is not a technique for transcending, it's just for simple relaxation, but the relaxation is nowhere near as deep as the rest gained during TM. As measures of skin resistance, respiration rate, biochemistry, and EEG studies show, TM produces a 4th state of consciousness. And the effects of the RR have not been found to be as wide ranging as the effects of TM. It's great that all this science is out on the various types of meditation and relaxation practices, because now all these claims being made can be empirically evaluated. The Relaxation Response should not be confused as a meditation technique comparable to TM. What the students nee dis an effective practice for enlivening their inner source of creativity and intelligence. And for that, they need to transcend to that deepest state of awareness.

[voodoomonkey]

Someone asked about TM tuition:
Learning TM requires a 12-hour course taught by a professional, certified teacher. Hence the course fee ($375-$1500). There's lifelong followup and support with one-on-one guidance and ongoing advanced classes. It’s a non-profit, tax-exempt educational organization. All course fees go to support teaching activities­—including meditation courses in inner cities, Native American reservations and developing nations.

[Solaris123]

I entirely approve of people learning mantra technique of meditation, including TM.
Some corrections, voodoo:
A. You seem to imply that ongoing classes are part of the initial fee. Not so. Ongoing courses are very expensive.
B. " Lifelong follow up" is nothing of the kind. Unless you count non-ceasing emails of courses, seminars, medicines and donations. Sorry to be blunt.
C. It takes very little training to become a TM teacher.
D. The mantras are all pre-arranged and given by age bracket. Nothing transcendental about that.
E. Adult fee is $2000 with various discounts available.

Still, TM is extremely helpful to those with no experience in meditation.

[BurtR]

meditation will have the effect of helping people realize that craving causes suffering and therefore one does not need to buy designer clothes.
for a free meditation course, see S.N. Goenka

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

P.S. Published October 2009

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Russell- I was at the Town Hall program of Robert Thurman with HH the Dalai Lama - you and others

Deb and I have just written (it will be published)

BE THE CHANGE
How Meditation Can Transform You and The World

Foreword by HH the Dalai Lama Introduction by Robert Thurman - conributions from HH the Karmapa, Ram Dass, Marianne Williamson, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Jane Fonda, Jack Kornfield, Ellen Burstyn, astronaut Edgar Mitchell, Byron Katie, John Hagelin, Bernie Glassman, Joan Halifax, Ed Begley, Patch Adams, Russell Bishop and others-

Joyfully,

Ed

[RoseMerry]

The ability to meditate at will is a very important skill that all children need to learn, before they enter the hormone firestorm of puberty. This is so cool.

But there is a downside. You do become easier to hypnotize. You need to be trained in this and learn to defense yourself against those would manipulate you for there own interests.

Seriously. I had such a great guru!

[Vajara]

For sure, Russel. I have been teaching my grandchildren how to meditate since they were 5yrs old and they enormously creative and expressive now that they are older. Once they learn to observe their breathing, they are able to express themselves with more confidence and awareness. We make videos of their art and dance so that they can express their whole being. My oldest granddaughter is 10 and has just been accepted into the Denver School of Arts and this doesn't surprise us at all because meditation is part of her being, doing and living. I hope other parents will get their kids involved in meditation by practicing what they teach. Sit with your kids every day for a few minutes and observe your breathng as a family.

[PewterPan]

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! www.tm.org

[OldPirate]

please address the $2000 or more price tag being charged from TM.org.

[zugzwang]

good point.

Same thing can be had for free.
google "Relaxation Response"

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

What an inspiring post, thank you. I love this initiative that will bring peace to many young people and to our world as an outcome.

Blessings,
Anne

[OldPirate]

please address the $2000 or more price tag being charged from TM.org.

[swingerofbirches]

I have heard of people seeking the ability to meditate, but it is a new one for me to hear of people seeking to evangelize meditation. In meditation, I find the world is fine as it is and I do not need to spread meditation to others. I know it is oft quoted but, "Be the change you want to see in the world." It comes from within.

[Solaris123]

Proper meditation is extremely effective way to "look within." Here and now.
Some people are capable developing their own techniques to achieve deep interspection. Most need help to learn a technqiue to help us quiet the mind and become present. Hence meditation is used as a useful tool.

[Paul Roberts]

I wanted to correct a spelling error in my post, I should have listed Mr. Simmons business here in Tampa as "Hip Hop Soda Shop", Im sorry for the error and ment no ill will in doing so.

[Paul Roberts]

I know you have a business here in Tampa, the "Hip Hop Sode Shop", but are you also involved with politics here? We are losing 333 million from our education budget here in Florida while increasing the prison system 390 million. If you are not already, please consider supporting the Democratic Party in Hillsborough Co. as we fight to rebuild and re-fund education in Florida