Would you like to see transcendental Meditation in schools - as promoted by David Lynch

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

Donovan and Lynch on 'Transcendental Meditation

What do you think?

I think all the kids should be exposed to 'bliss' - how lovely...

will listen later, but that reminds me of when my dad took us to mentmore towers when we were little. he was surprised to see loads of people levitating and doing meditation in tanks. my mum couldn't get us out fast enough.

i will bump this for any spiritual minded mums out there

I would be quite happy for my child to learn TM - but I think the teachers maybe need it even more?

certainly can't see any harm.

I would rather my children sat and did TM than sang hymns or said prayers as I had to.

A bit more TM in the world, really wouldn't go a miss!!

exactly I knew someone out there would want to give the kids some bliss... I found the interview very entertaining.

Not sure how school children will react to David Lynch and Donovan in their schools though... I would have loved it but Twin Peaks was on at the end of my school years.

When I was in the last two years of school, we were given the opportunity to learn TM. It was very relaxing..

Don't see anything wrong with it, but I guess I would be a hypocrite if I did!

I would like my children to be given the opportunity to learn meditation alongside other children.

I have been taught transcendental meditation and there is nothing special about it - you are given a mantra (word) to take you into the meditation. The only difference is I paid £500 for the privilege!

For the last 2 years I have been going to a Buddhist centre and learning different types of meditation. The potential problem with this kind of proposal is the religious baggage that goes with it. They would have to take the 'transcendental' or 'buddhist' out of the equation to make it more palatable to parents.

This has recently happened with cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness based cognitive behavioural therapy (mbct) - both are based on vipassana buddhist meditation where you watch your thoughts

I am a teacher and a mum. I teach at the Maharishi school where everyone meditates including the 4 year olds who do a technique for mind body coordination. Both my dds (10 and 15) go to the school. I would recommend it wholeheartedly to parents, pupils and teachers. I can sometimes get into school feeling a grumpy and after the first lesson i invariably feel better.

I used to teach in a similar school in Johannesburg where most of the kids came from Soweto. They used to come in to school in the morning buzzing with stress and after the morning meditation it was as though that stress was just washed away. It was terrible that they had to return to it every day, but we all felt that the day's experience of stress free, consciousness based education made a huge difference.

what a fabulous school fireflytoo. How much are the fees? is it a big school?

have read up about the maharishi school, think it sounds marvellous, just a bit too pricey for us..

I wouldn't have a problem with it. I think as long as it was instructional and not religiouys in nature. I don't mind my daughter learning all she can about Buddism, it is such a fascinatig and beautiful religion. I just don't want anyone converting her.

Agree with themildmanneredjanitor. This kind of thing should be kept firmly out of schools. If parents want to expose their children to it, that's their business.

Maybe it could be offered as an elective

Southeastastra my dad took me to mentmore towers too!

I learned meditation when i was about 7. My dad was into TM at the time. It used to drive my mum nuts - he'd be upstairs levitating while she was looking after the children and cooking a meal, and he'd come down all calm and serene and she'd hurl a carrot at him.

I don't think there's much to it really. The keep it out of schools people maybe think it's something a bit sinister or religious or dark. It's very simple though, just a way to empty your mind briefly of all the chatter and really relax, it's simple but also hard to do at the same time. I'd be happy for my children to do this at school. As well as add up and leg it around.

Yes I would think it would be a great idea

I learned TM when i was about 15 and I find it very very helpful in times of stress.

I agree that children should be running around and have fun...but seeing as they have to do all this learning, would it not be nice if they can do it in an environment that is structured to nurture the whole child and not just to stuff them full of information? TM is not a religion. In a nutshell it can be called a technique for self development. We teach the National Curriculum at the school and we get exellent results every year despite the fact that we are non selective. I am afraid it is expensive, but less so than all the other independent schools in the area. We are completely fees and fundraising funded...hence the expense.

The concern about the time it takes and how it might affect their school day is not really relevant as the children take 5 mins morning and afternoon for the under 10s and 10 mins for the over 10 year olds. Hardly any time and as a result of doing this technique they become more efficient. We firmly believe that the purpose of life is happiness. Our experience ( and HEAPS of research) has shown that relaxed, coherent children learn more easily and have great fun.

Oh btw Beetroot...i meant to mention....it is quite a small school here in the UK, but it is growing steadily. Parents travel up to 12 miles to bring their children here.

Oh one more thing...the word "transcendental" in TM stands for "going beyond thought" to experience the silence within yourself. Nothing sinister or artificial about it. Studies in EEG and consciousness has shown that transcending is as natural to the human mind as sleeping, dreaming and ordinary thinking. We all do it. And just as with sleep if you deprive a mind/brain from this experience you get the same results as sleep deprivation. The TM technique is a technique which provides the mind/brain with a regular clear experience of this state.

Om, I'm not sure...

it's true honest!!!

I love the idea - I know someone whose daughter would love this school. sadly she is just alittel to far away.

Do they ahve a music tradition there?

Sadly no...as it is such a very small school at the moment, but we encourage children to explore all areas of life and acknowledge achievements attained outside school. In the lower school they do have a general music lesson. We had a small choir till the teacher couldn't come in for it anymore and we do a Christmas play with singing etc every year. Many of our pupils have music lessons outside school (boys and girls).

My two went to the Maharishi School and loved it. They were both musical one got grade 8 harp the other grade 6 violin. They didn't learn music at school but doing the transcendental meditation at the school helped get rid of stress in and out of school activities (e.g. music exams. we decided it was best to take care of all areas instead of go for another school with music speciality.

p.s. fees were always less than other private schools in the area when ours were there. Link is maharishischool.com if you are interested.

whoops try again www.maharishischool.com