Hosted by a truly progressive university with faculty and students working in cutting-edge peace and sustainability practices, the David Lynch Change Begins Within Weekend is not only an opportunity to hear the three-time Oscar nominated filmmaker speak, but for attendees to take part in a greater conversation about the creative process, alternative education and ways to live a better life.

During the Nov. 13 to 15 weekend, Maharishi University will host both the David Lynch Weekend and a special visitors weekend for students interested in attending the University. Some of the sessions of the DLW may overlap with the visitors' weekend.

National Summit on Children's Health and Education:

Thursday, October 16, 2008
12:45 - 3 p.m. US ET
New York City, U.S.A.

To view replay of the webcast, please visit:
www.stressfreesummit.org/video/.

Carmen N'Namdi Principal of the Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse of Detroit

“Our staff was taught the TM technique for the mental and physical health benefits that result in the work environment with the release of stress. In students, we have seen the TM program enhance study skills, academic performance, critical thinking skills, interpersonal and social skills—all because of the deep rest that the body is receiving.

Transcendental Meditation (TM), a specific method of meditation, may be an effective non-medicinal tool for students to buffer themselves against the stresses of college life, according to new research conducted in part at American University.

The study “Effects of Transcendental Meditation practice on brain functioning and stress reactivity in college students” is published in the February 24 issue of the International Journal of Psychophysiology. It is the first random assignment study to explore the effects of meditation practice on brain and physiological functioning in college students. For more information click here or here.

George H. Rutherford, Ph.D., Principal of the Ideal Academy Public Charter School (K–8)

“The way public and private schools are set up today, everything is stressful, and stress leads to violence. My experience using TM with teachers and students is that it relieves the stress and makes teaching and learning a lot easier. If students are required to take social studies, art, or physical education, why aren't students—and teachers—required to take the TM and Consciousness-Based program? It will make our schools much better, and it will reduce the deep stress that lead to school violence and all the other violence and terrorism in the world.”

$20 million in federal funds to study benefits to health. Hundreds of scientific studies have been conducted on the benefits of the Transcendental Meditation program at more than 200 independent universities and research institutions worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale universities. For example, the US National Institutes of Health has awarded over $20 million to research the preventative health benefits of the TM program.

Ashley Deans, Ph.D., Director of Maharishi School (K-12), Fairfield, Iowa

“Imagine you are visiting a school where there are no locks on the lockers, and a five-dollar bill is pinned on a bulletin board with a note requesting that the owner claim it.

“You step into a ninth-grade classroom to be greeted by a sea of shining faces. The students are wide awake—eager to learn. You ask a question and every hand shoots up. The students giggle with anticipation.

“A teacher tells you she has more energy after a day's teaching than before. A parent confides that her children complain on Fridays that there is no school on the weekend.