A FLOWER FOR MAHARISHI
I had been working at the TM Center in Washington for about five months after I graduated college. I just wanted to be around the knowledge of TM--Transcendental Meditation-- as much as possible. I’d had wonderful experiences having learned TM a year before and in my heart was devoted to my teacher, Maharishi. I just wanted to be immersed in his knowledge as much as possible and, as it turned out, the way my opportunity afforded itself was for me to be the maintenance man at the TM center. After graduating college I had gone to my first TM in-residence course. There I decided I would do anything to be around these wonderful TM teachers, even clean their toilets if I had to. Sure enough, this was part of what I ended up doing for the next 9 months!
But around the fifth month of my work at the TM center, I was given the opportunity to see Maharishi at the Science of Creative Intelligence symposium at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I had never seen Maharishi in person before and I had received tickets to go up to Boston from Washington. My girlfriend and I traveled up there and we attended the various proceedings, and one day she said to me, "I want to give Maharishi a flower”. Fine. If she wanted to do that, OK. But the thought of me giving Maharishi a flower, giving any other man a flower for that matter, to my mind at that time in my life, did not appeal at all, to say the least!
We went to a flower shop and she picked out the most expensive flower in the shop, and then she turned to me and she said, “Aren’t you going to get Maharishi a flower?” So she sort of shamed me into it and I said “Well, alright.” And I picked out the cheapest flower in the shop, a little daisy.
We went back to the lecture hall and when the lecture finished we waited outside to wait for Maharishi to come out. So a number of us gathered there and Maharishi slowly made his way through our line, receiving flowers from the people. And my girlfriend handed him her flower. By this time my daisy was quite wilted and very droopy, and when Maharishi turned in my direction, I held it out to him. He took the flower and he said to me “Jai Guru Dev” (glory to Guru Dev, Maharishi's teacher). And I looked into his eyes; I said “Jai Guru Dev”.
As I looked into his eyes, what I saw was, all the love in the universe was concentrated in this one man. All the love between man and God, man and woman, between father and son, mother and son, brother and brother, you name it. All the love in the universe seemed to be emanating from this man, but actually, I then realized that no, it wasn’t really emanating from Maharishi, but that it was actually coming out of my own heart. I experienced that, somehow, Maharishi was drawing that love out of my heart and then reflecting it back to me.
That gave me a great insight into self-realization; it’s all within us.
Jai Guru Dev.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
My Time On Romper Room
February 1953 was the beginning of Romper Room's forty year run on television. "Miss Nancy" was the much adored teacher. Her stage name was "Nancy Rogers" but she was actually Nancy Claster, married to the show's producer, Bert Claster.
In December of '53, at the age of four, I was one of the children on the show, for the standard two week stint. But Miss Nancy asked my mom to have me extend for an additional two weeks, and we did.
Nancy Rogers (Claster), America's predecessor to Fred Rogers of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood", was a GODDESS to me and probably millions of other children! She radiated goodness, beauty and light. And when, as you see at the end of the film, she asks me if I would like to give her a hug, well, I took maximum advantage of the opportunity!
For my Romper Room show-and-tell I brought in a scale model of a house that was built by the construction firm my dad worked for. As a result, the TV station, Baltimore's WBAL, was swamped with inquiries about the house. It sold within a week (but no commission for me, darn it).
47 years after this film was shot, I made a video of my own sort of "Romper Room" on the streets of India. To view it, see above: it is called "Harmony For The Homeless".
In December of '53, at the age of four, I was one of the children on the show, for the standard two week stint. But Miss Nancy asked my mom to have me extend for an additional two weeks, and we did.
Nancy Rogers (Claster), America's predecessor to Fred Rogers of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood", was a GODDESS to me and probably millions of other children! She radiated goodness, beauty and light. And when, as you see at the end of the film, she asks me if I would like to give her a hug, well, I took maximum advantage of the opportunity!
For my Romper Room show-and-tell I brought in a scale model of a house that was built by the construction firm my dad worked for. As a result, the TV station, Baltimore's WBAL, was swamped with inquiries about the house. It sold within a week (but no commission for me, darn it).
47 years after this film was shot, I made a video of my own sort of "Romper Room" on the streets of India. To view it, see above: it is called "Harmony For The Homeless".
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Deborah Henning's Debut CD: I Like To Fly (reviewed)
Deborah Henning's Debut CD: I Like To Fly
Reviewed by C. M. Burke
The Fairfield Weekly Reader
Fairfield, Iowa, USA Translate This Article
26 June 2009
Published 25 June 2009 in The Fairfield Weekly Reader.
Listen to samples at musicmall.globalgoodnews.com/songs.html
Like flight itself, Deborah Henning's recently released CD, I Like To Fly, is exhilarating! It has twelve songs inspired by His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's teachings and by experiences resulting from the practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs (including, as the title suggests, Yogic Flying).
The songs are simultaneously playful and profound. Light seems to be shining through every aspect. With the exception of one song, all words, music, instrumentals, vocals (Deborah does multiple voices on all the songs) and arrangements are Deborah's creation. And she designed the front and back CD cover artwork.
Deborah, largely self-taught, accompanies herself on electric piano, using it to make the sounds of various other instruments. She made a point of not listening to other music during the years she was composing and the result is a sound that is remarkably fresh and unique.
Several friends who have listened to I Like To Fly have had a similar impression. A psychologist who received it as a birthday gift says, ''It's my best birthday present.'' Another friend, who speaks only broken English, said: ''A beautiful voice!''
For me, it is that beautiful voice that gives the CD an ineffable quality. The words, music and arrangements are terrific. But Deborah is not out to wow us with great power or range of voice. What is so very special is the quality of advanced consciousness of the singer. Her voice has ''it.'' ''It'' is so rare, and I am relishing this opportunity to enjoy it.
Deborah and her late husband, world-famous magician, Doug Henning, spent nearly ten years studying personally with Maharishi, often on a daily basis. Deborah says: ''Putting much attention on Maharishi's lectures and writing songs about them really helps one integrate the knowledge and make it your own. The unmanifest Pure Consciousness* is so abstract that one has to make it concrete in every way possible.''
What is her favorite song on the CD? It's the very first song: ''Just Be.'' Deborah explains: ''When I heard Maharishi say: 'Just be, just be,' it touched me deeply! I thought: 'Even I can do that!' I think 'Just be' is really the secret to a peaceful and dynamically successful life. In the same way the whole huge dynamism of creation comes from, and is upheld by, absolutely silent Pure Being (the Unified Field), so our life lived from this level of silence makes us fulfilled in successful activity, peace and joy.''
You can purchase the CD I Like To Fly at M.U.M. (Maharishi University of Management) bookstore and at musicmall.globalgoodnews.com/songs.html
© Copyright 2009 The Fairfield Weekly Reader
Global Good News comment:
* The silent, unbounded field of pure intelligence at the basis of all the mind's activity. This field, which is also the Unified Field of total Natural Law, the fundamental level of intelligence at the basis of the entire universe, may be experienced directly and its infinite potential fully unfolded in daily life through the regular practice of Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation Programme and its Advanced Techniques.
For information about Maharishi's seven-point programme to create a healthy, happy, prosperous society, and a peaceful world, please visit: Global Financial Capital of New York.
Reviewed by C. M. Burke
The Fairfield Weekly Reader
Fairfield, Iowa, USA Translate This Article
26 June 2009
Published 25 June 2009 in The Fairfield Weekly Reader.
Listen to samples at musicmall.globalgoodnews.com/songs.html
Like flight itself, Deborah Henning's recently released CD, I Like To Fly, is exhilarating! It has twelve songs inspired by His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's teachings and by experiences resulting from the practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs (including, as the title suggests, Yogic Flying).
The songs are simultaneously playful and profound. Light seems to be shining through every aspect. With the exception of one song, all words, music, instrumentals, vocals (Deborah does multiple voices on all the songs) and arrangements are Deborah's creation. And she designed the front and back CD cover artwork.
Deborah, largely self-taught, accompanies herself on electric piano, using it to make the sounds of various other instruments. She made a point of not listening to other music during the years she was composing and the result is a sound that is remarkably fresh and unique.
Several friends who have listened to I Like To Fly have had a similar impression. A psychologist who received it as a birthday gift says, ''It's my best birthday present.'' Another friend, who speaks only broken English, said: ''A beautiful voice!''
For me, it is that beautiful voice that gives the CD an ineffable quality. The words, music and arrangements are terrific. But Deborah is not out to wow us with great power or range of voice. What is so very special is the quality of advanced consciousness of the singer. Her voice has ''it.'' ''It'' is so rare, and I am relishing this opportunity to enjoy it.
Deborah and her late husband, world-famous magician, Doug Henning, spent nearly ten years studying personally with Maharishi, often on a daily basis. Deborah says: ''Putting much attention on Maharishi's lectures and writing songs about them really helps one integrate the knowledge and make it your own. The unmanifest Pure Consciousness* is so abstract that one has to make it concrete in every way possible.''
What is her favorite song on the CD? It's the very first song: ''Just Be.'' Deborah explains: ''When I heard Maharishi say: 'Just be, just be,' it touched me deeply! I thought: 'Even I can do that!' I think 'Just be' is really the secret to a peaceful and dynamically successful life. In the same way the whole huge dynamism of creation comes from, and is upheld by, absolutely silent Pure Being (the Unified Field), so our life lived from this level of silence makes us fulfilled in successful activity, peace and joy.''
You can purchase the CD I Like To Fly at M.U.M. (Maharishi University of Management) bookstore and at musicmall.globalgoodnews.com/songs.html
© Copyright 2009 The Fairfield Weekly Reader
Global Good News comment:
* The silent, unbounded field of pure intelligence at the basis of all the mind's activity. This field, which is also the Unified Field of total Natural Law, the fundamental level of intelligence at the basis of the entire universe, may be experienced directly and its infinite potential fully unfolded in daily life through the regular practice of Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation Programme and its Advanced Techniques.
For information about Maharishi's seven-point programme to create a healthy, happy, prosperous society, and a peaceful world, please visit: Global Financial Capital of New York.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Book Review: Mind-body connection
Awakening Nature’s Healing Intelligence: Expanding Ayurveda Through the Maharishi Vedic Aproach to Health by Dr. Hari Sharma; Published 1997 by Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. (Reviewed by C. M. Berg)
Eureka! I’ve found it! This is one health book I would describe as truly great. There are a lot of health books these days that I find interesting, but this is one of those very rare ones that seems to have been written by Nature itself. From the appropriate title, Awakening Nature’s Healing Intelligence, to the last page, it reads like a contemporary scripture. Like the petals of a flower which blossom in perfect sequence, so does the profound knowledge contained in this book unfold. Dr. Hari Sharma is eminently qualified to write on this subject. He is chairman emeritus at Ohio State University’s College of Medicine and Public Health. A native of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, he was trained in a Western-style school of medicine in Lucknow. Later he studied under the tutelage of the great sage Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who, together with India’s foremost Ayurvedic physicians, has refined and expanded Ayurveda into a potent medical system — the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health. Sharma’s book describes this system, its underlying theory, as well as the impressive body of scientific research on its various modalities. What is the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health? Dr. Sharma explains: "The focus of this comprehensive system of natural health care is on the underlying wholeness of existence and the structuring dynamics of intelligence that give rise to the human physiology. Disease is viewed as the result of the breakdown in the delicate balance of the coordinating intelligence that rules the functioning of the body. This breakdown occurs on a level deeper than organs, tissues, or cells — it results from the disconnection of intelligence from its source in wholeness. This concept of wholeness derives from the Vedic tradition and parallels modern physics’ discovery of the unified source of reality beyond the subatomic level. The insubstantial nature of material creation — as identified by both Vedic science and modern physics — cannot be ignored if we are to have a complete model of the human body and the nature of health and disease. As the only system of health care that provides a model for integrating this understanding of the deepest nature of reality with our current understanding of health and disease, the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health has much to offer." According to Sharma, the essence of the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health is that healers should address healthcare holistically, as well as all the specific values that constitute health, i.e. physiology; intelligence at the basis of physiology; influence of the environment; influence of buildings in which one lives or works; influence of the distant environment: sun, moon, planets, stars; and the influence of collective health on society. While many of the modalities employed by the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health are similar to traditional Ayurvedic techniques, they have a strong emphasis on the element of consciousness, which renders them far more effective. For example, subtle Vedic sounds, which have been found to correspond to areas of the human body, have been very effectively used to heal chronic illnesses. This is Maharishi Vedic Vibration Therapy and functions at the subtle junction point where mind and body meet. Because he delves so deeply into the field of pure knowledge, Sharma highlights what is achingly missing from Western allopathy. The many shortcomings of modern healthcare stem from a lack of total knowledge of the mind and body interplay. And that total knowledge is lucidly, and I would say historically, presented in this book. All medical doctors and health practitioners should be required to read it! This book is not just for healthcare providers; anyone who is a seeker of wisdom will revel in it. If you really want to have the inside track on a profound approach to health, you will love this book. Without being a typical ‘how-to’ volume, it offers expert resources one can seek to pursue this path. And if you are even a bit as inspired as I am after reading it, you will want to do just that.
This book is available at: http://www.21stbooks.com/
Eureka! I’ve found it! This is one health book I would describe as truly great. There are a lot of health books these days that I find interesting, but this is one of those very rare ones that seems to have been written by Nature itself. From the appropriate title, Awakening Nature’s Healing Intelligence, to the last page, it reads like a contemporary scripture. Like the petals of a flower which blossom in perfect sequence, so does the profound knowledge contained in this book unfold. Dr. Hari Sharma is eminently qualified to write on this subject. He is chairman emeritus at Ohio State University’s College of Medicine and Public Health. A native of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, he was trained in a Western-style school of medicine in Lucknow. Later he studied under the tutelage of the great sage Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who, together with India’s foremost Ayurvedic physicians, has refined and expanded Ayurveda into a potent medical system — the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health. Sharma’s book describes this system, its underlying theory, as well as the impressive body of scientific research on its various modalities. What is the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health? Dr. Sharma explains: "The focus of this comprehensive system of natural health care is on the underlying wholeness of existence and the structuring dynamics of intelligence that give rise to the human physiology. Disease is viewed as the result of the breakdown in the delicate balance of the coordinating intelligence that rules the functioning of the body. This breakdown occurs on a level deeper than organs, tissues, or cells — it results from the disconnection of intelligence from its source in wholeness. This concept of wholeness derives from the Vedic tradition and parallels modern physics’ discovery of the unified source of reality beyond the subatomic level. The insubstantial nature of material creation — as identified by both Vedic science and modern physics — cannot be ignored if we are to have a complete model of the human body and the nature of health and disease. As the only system of health care that provides a model for integrating this understanding of the deepest nature of reality with our current understanding of health and disease, the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health has much to offer." According to Sharma, the essence of the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health is that healers should address healthcare holistically, as well as all the specific values that constitute health, i.e. physiology; intelligence at the basis of physiology; influence of the environment; influence of buildings in which one lives or works; influence of the distant environment: sun, moon, planets, stars; and the influence of collective health on society. While many of the modalities employed by the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health are similar to traditional Ayurvedic techniques, they have a strong emphasis on the element of consciousness, which renders them far more effective. For example, subtle Vedic sounds, which have been found to correspond to areas of the human body, have been very effectively used to heal chronic illnesses. This is Maharishi Vedic Vibration Therapy and functions at the subtle junction point where mind and body meet. Because he delves so deeply into the field of pure knowledge, Sharma highlights what is achingly missing from Western allopathy. The many shortcomings of modern healthcare stem from a lack of total knowledge of the mind and body interplay. And that total knowledge is lucidly, and I would say historically, presented in this book. All medical doctors and health practitioners should be required to read it! This book is not just for healthcare providers; anyone who is a seeker of wisdom will revel in it. If you really want to have the inside track on a profound approach to health, you will love this book. Without being a typical ‘how-to’ volume, it offers expert resources one can seek to pursue this path. And if you are even a bit as inspired as I am after reading it, you will want to do just that.
This book is available at: http://www.21stbooks.com/
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