November 2008

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Maharishi Gandharva Veda concert in
Beirut thrills the atmosphere
with peace and harmony

On 18 November 2008, a beautiful concert of Maharishi Gandharva Veda music was held in Beirut, Lebanon. Three renowned Maharishi Gandharva Veda musicians—Surajit Das (sitar); Rudrajit Bhattacharya (vocal); and Paul Subrata (tablas)—gave the concert at Monnot Theater in Beirut.

The musicians were invited by Dr Omar Hamza and Dr Suzan Hamza, the National Directors of the Global Country of World Peace in Lebanon, which offers the programmes of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, including the Transcendental Meditation Programme.

The concert was held under the patronage of the Lebanese Minister of Culture, Mr Tammam Salam, who attended along with other dignitaries including the wife of the Prime Minister of Lebanon. The concert was organized by the Global Mother Divine Organization of Lebanon, headed by Dr Suzan Hamza, with the help of the National Office of Religion and Culture of the Global Country of World Peace.

At the opening of the concert, Dr Hamza welcomed the guests and gave a short introduction about Maharishi Gandharva Veda music. She said, 'Thousands of years ago in India, great Rishis or sages cognized within their own consciousness the subtle rhythms and enlightening melodies of the Veda, which is pure knowledge at the basis of Nature. As a part of the Veda, Gandharva Veda is the tradition of musical performance that replicates the vibrations of Natural Law at different times of day and night.'

Dr Hamza went on to explain that 'Maharishi has revived this eternal music of Nature and inspired the most renowned musicians of India to bless the world with Maharishi Gandharva Veda music. By playing or listening to this music you join in creating greater peace, harmony, and joy for yourself, your dear ones and the world.'

Dr Salim Haddad, National Director of the Office of Religion and Culture for the Global Country of World Peace, commented on the success of the concert, saying that those who came late could not find a place to sit, and none of the audience members left before the concert was finished—'they remained in silence for two complete hours, ending the concert with long minutes of clapping.'

Dr Haddad added, 'This music is to enliven the infinite field of silence on the gross level of relativity. . . . the music was extremely marvelous in making everyone experience the level of his inner silence.'

Dr. Ashley Deans Completed his 11 day tour by doing more than 25 lectures at variety of Universities
and schools in different areas in Lebanon

(15 November, 2008) Dr. Ashley Deans, Executive Director, Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment, Fairfield, Iowa, and Professor of Consciousness-Based Education, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, have been invited by our TM National Office of Education in Lebanon. Dr. Deans arrived on the 4th of November very late at night, and started his tour immediately after few hours, by meeting the Director General at the Ministry of Higher Education, and then he continued a non-stopping tour to do lectures and lectures and lectures, at ten Universities, fifteen schools, five Educational and Cultural Centers, two TV interviews and two press conferences, and if we could have extended his trip more we could definitely have more lectures in more schools.

The respond was very positive and promising. Dr. Omar Hamza, the National Director of the TM movement in Lebanon send a message to all the TM teachers in Lebanon urging them to capitalize fully on the tour of Dr. Deans; he said: "First and foremost, you need to IMMEDIATELY initiate into TM all the top and responsible people that Dr. Deans has met, and immediately does mean just that and not in a week's time or something like that!!!". Dr. Omar added:" May I once more impress upon you all the necessity of working together to ensure that the immediate success of Dr. Deans is capitalized upon, so we can build on that success to move forward and establish Heaven on Earth in Lebanon, as soon as possible.

Dr. Ziad Dakdouk who is in-charge of the TM National Office of Education, and who organized and coordinate the tour of Dr. Deans and who accompanied him from a meeting to an other and from a lecture to another, was always inviting all the members of the TM movement to join him in the tour. In one of his continues messages he said: "You are all very warmly invited to attend all the lectures and invite your friends also! The lectures are being held in many schools, universities, cultural centers, etc.. The atmosphere will be more harmonious and supportive with your presence and the same for the governors, sidhas, and meditators. So please be there. Governors have also the very joyful responsibility to follow-up on these lectures and initiate all these large groups who would be attending". Dr. Dakdouk added: "I would like to extend the greatest thanks to all those who have given help in whichever way whether small or big, and invite everyone to continue supporting this beautiful endeavor to establish permanent peace, prosperity and invincibility in Lebanon."

Consciousness-Based Education

Consciousness-Based education is very easy to implement. It simply involves the students practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique for a short time twice a day. In addition, older students also practice the advanced TM-Sidhi program, including Yogic Flying.

These easily learned, effortless techniques produce ideal education through the development of consciousness.

Established in their own growing inner happiness and creativity, students enjoy learning in an environment that is free of stress and conducive to happiness and friendship.

Traditionally, education has focused primarily on what the students study—the object of knowledge in different disciplines, the known. However, education has lacked a systematic means of developing the full value of the knower and the process of knowing—thus lacking the means to unfold the full creative potential of every student.

During the Transcendental Meditation program, early (sensory) components of the brain’s response to somato-sensory stimuli are more widely distributed across the cortex, indicating greater participation of the whole brain in the response to a stimulus. Reference: Human Physiology 25: 171–180, 1999.Since the 1970s scientific research on the effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique has shown increased intelligence and reduced anxiety among high school students, improved academic achievement, cognitive ability, creativity and self-esteem, and increased tolerance, friendliness, and trust—among many other studies.

Growing interest in the effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation technique and its theoretical aspect, the Science of Creative Intelligence, inspired Maharishi to offer Consciousness-Based education, which develops the total creative potential and total brain functioning of the student and prevents the harmful effects of stress. With this program we now have a reliable, practical way to develop all students, irrespective of their background, so that they grow in ideal citizenship and inner fulfillment.
 

Introduction to
the Transcendental Meditation Program
in Education

The Transcendental Meditation program enables any school to fulfill its responsibility to the youth of the nation by systematically developing the latent potential of its students, so that irrespective of their educational or socio-economic background, they can experience increasing success day by day, and become the best of who they really are.

Unique importance of the Transcendental Meditation technique 

Most education focuses primarily on what students study, without systematically developing the qualities of the student essential not only for success in school, but for success in life: alertness, intelligence, creative thinking, confidence, inner calm, motivation, good judgment, happiness. These are naturally developed by the Transcendental Meditation technique, which gives the students direct experience of the inner field of their own total potential, which they start to use in daily life.

Scientific research findings on the Transcendental Meditation programMore than 600 scientific research studies conducted at over 250 universities and research institutes in 30 countries document the wide-ranging benefits of this technique for mind, body, behavior, and society.

As the Transcendental Meditation technique is unfolding more of the students’ creative potential, it gives deep rest, significantly reducing stress and tension. The greater the number of students and teachers in a school who learn Transcendental Meditation, the more harmonious, calm, focused, and positive the school environment becomes. The Transcendental Meditation program is not a religion or religious practice, and involves no change in lifestyle or belief. More than five million people around the world of all cultures and backgrounds have learned the practice. 

Becoming ideal citizens

As students unfold more of their inner potential, they cease to be frustrated and dissatisfied; they recognize expanding possibilities for themselves. Their thoughts, feelings, speech, and behavior become more life-supporting; they come out of problems, make fewer mistakes, and are increasingly able to fulfill their own goals while upholding the interests of others—the basis of ideal citizenship.