Consciousness-Based Education - Maharishi University of ...

consciousness-based education and governmentThe practice of Transcendental Meditation involves the effortlessuse of a specific vehicle for transcending, called a “mantra,” or suitablesound. Unlike most mantra meditations, any possible meaning ofthe mantra is not part of Transcendental Meditation practice. Rather,the individual is trained to experience the sound value of the mantraat more “refined levels” (Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, 1969). Further theTranscendental Meditation technique is not a process of concentration,but rather is a process of “effortless transcending”—using the mantra asa vehicle to take attention from the ordinary thinking level to the leastexcited state of consciousness—consciousness without content, calledpure consciousness (Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, 1969; Travis and Pearson,2000).Research has found that Transcendental Meditation practice is characterizedby decreased activation or arousal of the autonomic nervoussystem, as reflected in decreased breath rate and lower sympathetic tone(Dillbeck, & Orme-Johnson, 1987); higher parasympathetic tone, asreflected in amplitude of the high frequency component of heart ratevariability (Travis, 2001); and higher levels of frontal electroencephalography(EEG) alpha coherence (8–12 Hz) (Dillbeck and Bronson,1981; Travis, 2002; Travis et al., 2002) and frontal- parietal phase synchrony(Hebert et al., 2005).Students as young as the age of 10 can be instructed in the standard7-step Transcendental Meditation program and are able to successfullylearn how to practice this technique in an effortless manner, (Nidich& Nidich, 1990). The time of practice is adjusted for adolescents, withmiddle and secondary school students practicing the TranscendentalMeditation program from 10 to 15 minutes morning and afternoon.(The usual time of practice for adults is 20 minutes.) The ability to learnhow to meditate does not involve any change in beliefs, values, religion,or lifestyle (Roth, 1987).The Transcendental Meditation program is taught to students bycertified teachers, following the same standardized procedures forteaching. After initial introductory and preparatory lectures and abrief personal interview with the teacher, students then participate inan individual personal instruction session (about an hour), followedby group meetings to verify the correctness of practice and to provideadditional knowledge about the practice over the next three consecutive300