Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation
is rediscovery of Sankaracharya’s school of thought and works with the
philosophy of ‘natural law’ and harmonising aspect in the context
human endeavour are its unique dimensions. Even corporate giants of the
western world and oriental world are adopting this TM for its staff to
increase the production and keep them at ease with the new found ‘consciousness’.Even
some countries are looking towards ‘Transcendental Meditation’ to
solve their chronic problems of the society. To explore the concept of
TM and the western perspective Dr Gautam Chatterjee of
talks to Dr Will Fox,International Director of
Maharishi Institute of Management.
G.C. Dr Will Fox what was the mystic
call of India which attracted you towards Indian Mysticism?
W.F.: I don’t like to use the world ‘Mysticism’
which sound unreal but I was attracted towards real and practical
thing...
G.C.: Do you mean mysticism is
impracticable thing?
W.F.: I want to understand beyond the
surface of the facts about India...
some people call it mysticism I call it
deeper science from the transidental perspective.
G.C. Tell me how it all began I mean
what and how you got attracted about India.
W.F. In 1963 I was 12 years and got
exposure about India in ‘World Fair or Exhibition’. Actually I knew
I would go to India stall at the first place...
G.C. In that stall what you had seen.
WF: The photographer, the music and
sampling of Indian culture which gave me a feeling of comfort and
experience India. I bought a Brass Cobra which I still have.
G.C. Dr Fox how you have delved into
Indian philosophy.
WF: I read Upanishad when I was in High
School.It was perhaps the publication of Ramakrishna Mission, I also
read Samurset Maughm’Razars Edge’ which inspired me to read about
Indian philosophy. Then in University of Texas I did my graduation in
Education I studied Vedanta philosophy under great scholar Raju Rao. ...
I did Ph.D. in Vedic Management from Maharshi European Research
University Seelisberg,Switzerland in 1997. The title was ‘Application
of Vedic Science to Management’ under guidance of Micheal Tillbeck.
G.C. Who all were there in your Ph.D
viva voice.
W.F. Maharshi himself and the faculty
G.C. What did Maharshi asked you?
WF: He asked what you want to do with
this knowledge!
G.C. What was your answer?
WF I told him that I want to raise
the quality of life in the society to fulfill vedic ideas of perfection!
G.C. So the question had the answer and
the answer was your mission as you took up teaching later.
WF Yeaah! That’s right!
G.C. What was your first exposure to the
world of meditation in your life!
W.F. I just heard from many places that
India is a land of meditation.But I never practiced until I got the
exposure in the Maharshi’s teaching in 1983 in New Delhi.
G.C. How as a Western personality you
got exposure to TM and what was your motivation and experience about your
initiation.
WF: Maharshi was very well known during
1960s I read about him and as a child I used to know from National
Television and everybody knew him. Coming to the point of Experiencing
TM it was seeking deep within myself to feel the unbounded silence. The
sensation was extremely fulfilling.As a result immediately within few
weeks I noticed my life became orderly and was more purposeful.
G.C. Have you found the mission!
W.F. Yes it was first year of my
undergraduation. I got more purposeful in life I improved my grades and
I received knowledge more comfortably.
G.C. How western world understand the
dynamics of Indian mysticism and react to TM.
W.F. Western world was know to have
developed outwardly and inward development was less and to develop the
inner man India was the source.
G.C. You mean western world ‘inner
core’ was not developed?
W.F. Western world was never been so
developed as in the East so western world looked towards East for TM
which the easy technique as one need not to change Religion,community or
life style to practice TM. The provided easiest practicable technique to
achieve conscousness and enhance intelligence as well.
GC. Dr Fox can you explain the essence
of TM.
WF It is simple and effortless mental
technique based on natural tendency of mind which allows one to
experience the source of thoughts within. Constantly doing this one find
pure consciousness, one also contacts the sources of intelligence and
creativity. Regular contact during meditation one discovers more energy,
creatifity and intelligence in all parts of life. For all this TM in the
AM and PM for twenty minutes each time is the key.
GC At one level it enhances the
consciousness on the other level does it link with empowers of some
energy. Can you explain.
WF The pure consciousness enhances energy
which is force of life and purposeful development can work towards
corrective methodology and process it towards evolutionary process in
harmony with natural life. All these goes towards empowerment of energy
called Siddhi. There are other advances Super TM programme courses
available for those who aspire to enhance the supreme consciousness.
GC Dr Fox can you tell us TM falls under
which school of thought.
WF TM is developed from Sankaracharya’s
traditon of Northern India.
GC TM is a methodology which is being
experimented world wide. Can you elaborate some experiences.
WF As people develop consciousness they
enhance psychological aspects and physiological dimensions as well.
These refinement brings about a consciousness which works towards a
total benefic on the society as a whole. And as a result people in
general became healthy and humane which results in lesser accidents,
crimes etc. These are proven by several research underken by experts.
G.C. Which Govt. of the World has
adopted the TM for the benefits of the society.
WF: Moozumbiqu had adopted TM and
President took personal interest to implement that. This exercise was
worked out different adopting section like School, Milltary and others.
As a result within short time 20 year old civil war ended.
G.C. How it is possible?
WF: Well,collective consciousness works
towards the holistic beneficial effect on the people in large. The
element of enactment of energy worked towards refinement and society got
developed. TM strives towards a balamcing aspect of Natural law.And if
one takes the natural law within consciousness the balance come to the
fore. What TM does is expanding consciousness which help to strive
consciousness i.e to bring about a life that is strong in thee right and
wak in the wrong.
GC: What is the future of TM
WF:The future in TM is large graphs of
schools and colleges and ‘Millitary’ to create a collective
consciousness of natural law. The future of TM is to improve the quality
of life of the society.
G.C. So TM can develop consciousness
which can work towards global good. Now tell us are you doing any effort
to control the socio-medico epidimic called AIDS which is threatening the
society as a whole.
WF: Oh..not really but one can think it
over.. however we offer TM programme for Health Sector !
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