This blew me away.

In April, David Lynch and Moby (along with a number of other luminaries) are joining together for a weekend on Creativity, Sustainability, and Peace. This is big news in itself, but what's even more impressive, to me, is who's hosting the weekend. Maharishi University of Management (MUM) is a school in Iowa that offers programs much like those found in any mainstream university—from a BA in Computer Science to an MBA in Sustainability—but it's unique in that it provides "consciousness-based education": all students learn Transcendental Meditation as part of the curriculum.

This seems like one of those compelling pieces of evidence that the world really IS changing and that the shift so many of us speak of is having an effect.  I mean, really. Did you ever dream we'd see meditation as a part of a standard university program?

If you're at all intrigued by this, now's an excellent time to find out more. Again, in April, the university is holding its Visitors Weekend on Consciousness, Creativity, Sustainability, and Peace. If you know anyone who'd be interested, or if you're personally curious about a university that incorporates the development of consciousness and awareness into the standard fields of study, then have a look:  

The details of the weekend are as follows:

When: April 25 to 28
Where: Maharishi University of Management (MUM), Fairfield, Iowa
What: The schedule can be found here, though highlights include the following:

Filmmaker David Lynch: "Catching the Big Fish: Creativity and Pure Consciousness"
Brain researcher Fred Travis, PhD: "What happens to your brain when you meditate?" (includes a live brain wave demonstration)
Physicist John Hagelin, PhD: “Quantum physics and consciousness—going beyond thought”
Donovan, with special guest Moby: A free concert for all visitors

You can find out more (and register) here: http://www.lynchweekend.org. It's an amazing opportunity to hear some incredible speakers (not to mention seeing a few performances); all the participants are volunteering their time because they believe in the school's core values.

Even if you're not interested, please pass this on! MUM is a wonderful example of what more universities could do. Part of what's so great about the program is that it's a model that works: graduates have gone on to schools such as Harvard Business School, Johns Hopkins Medical School, Stanford, Yale, and others, and (perhaps even better...), ACTs national alumni survey found out that MUM's alumni are more satisfied with their college education than graduates from over 1,000 other colleges.

To me this seems obvious—they're given time to meditate and supported in developing their own awareness, and after all, how can any of us expect to fulfill our educational potential if our inner creative potential isn't cultivated as well? (Still, sometimes those who haven't yet explored such practices can use a little convincing. :)

Have a look, though, and imagine what the world would be like if all educational institutions were like this.

Here's to a future where our inner awareness balances the outer...
Siona (and the Gaia Team)


PS. One more thing. :) The David Lynch Foundation, which helped sponsor this newsletter, just announced that all new students who enroll at Maharishi University will receive a scholarship covering the full tuition for the Transcendental Meditation course... so anyone who attends will get this benefit for free.