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Copyright 1996, Maharishi University of Management New Maharishi
College of Vedic Medicine Founded
New Maharishi College of Vedic Medicine Founded BY MEGAN ROBINSON The new Maharishi College of Vedic Medicine was inaugurated November 8, Dhanvantari Day, and will train experts in Vedic Medicine. The College will be offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the Maharishi Vedic Approach to HealthSM program. Classes are expected to begin in January 1997, and interested students can contact the Admissions Office at 472-1110. According to the dean of the new College, Dr. Robert Schneider, students will be trained to utilize the body's inner intelligence to prevent disease and promote perfect health. "We always felt the orientation to prevention and lack of harmful side effects of the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health was essential to creating ideal health," Dr. Schneider said. "This is what we truly want to teach our students." The four-year Bachelor of Arts will include courses on the theory and practice of the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health program. Students will learn the Maharishi JyotishSM program, the Maharishi Sthapatya VedaSM program, and pulse diagnosis, and will become health educators. The graduate degrees will be through the Department of Physiology, with an emphasis on the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health program. They will learn not only to apply the techniques of the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health program, but to evaluate the methods according to modern science. Publication Features Research on Hypertension BY JOHN ZAMARRA A study of the effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique on hypertension received compliments in the October 21 issue of the American Medical News, a newspaper published by the American Medical Association. The AMNews goes to the 250,000 physicians who are members the American Medical Association--some 40% of all physicians in the U.S. In the article, Norman Kaplan M.D., one of the world's foremost experts on hypertension and a professor at the University of Texas Medical School in Dallas, was "surprised" by the study's results, because many previous studies show meditation techniques have a poor rate of success for lowering blood pressure. But Robert H. Schneider, M.D., co-author of the study and dean of the new Maharishi College of Vedic Medicine at the University, said that those studies lumped all forms of meditation into one set of statistics and didn't look at the effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique alone. In fact, the Transcendental Meditation technique lowers blood pressure as effectively as the average of drug treatment, according to the AMNews and the original study. "I think this was a valid, well done study," said Dr. Kaplan, who also headed a major committee on the detection and treatment of high blood pressure. Dr. Kaplan said that he recommends trying the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique if patients inquire about it. The study compared the effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique to muscle relaxation and a control group of education lifestyle improvements. The Transcendental Meditation technique group's blood pressure improved more than that of the two other groups, and the findings held regardless of the specific cause of hypertension. Dr. Charles Alexander, chairman of the Department of Psychology and co-author of the study, said, "Remarkably the Transcendental Meditation program was equally effective in lowering high blood pressure in individuals with a high-risk profile for hypertension as in people with a low-risk profile. Even in individuals who were high in obesity, drinking, smoking, psychosocial stress, salt intake, and physical inactivity, the Transcendental Meditation program markedly lowered blood pressure." Dr. Alexander said that the regularity or compliance rate in the group practicing the Transcendental Meditation program was very high--greater than 90%--over the course of the study. "This is also an important finding because, as the AMNews article recognized, it is difficult to get people to alter long-term lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking, and lack of exercise, even though such changes might be beneficial for health." Numerous journals and papers around the world also covered this study, and it received a five-minute spotlight on CNN. Maharishi's New Books Arrive Soon BY MIKAEL ENGLUND Four new books by Maharishi are expected to be available by mid-November, according to Harry Bright, chairman of the University Press Council. These latest books bring out Maharishi's teaching and the application of Maharishi's knowledge to different areas of society, said Sam Boothby, dean of the College of SCI. "In addition, they give many new explanations of Veda and the Vedic Literature never previously published." In Maharishi University of Management Maharishi introduces the concept of automation in administration through the application of Natural Law to every area of management. Maharishi Vedic University, Introduction emphasizes Maharishi's Absolute Theory of Education. Maharishi's Absolute Theory of Defense--Sovereignty in Invincibility shows how to bring military power in alliance with Natural Law. Maharishi's Absolute Theory of Government--Automation in Administration shows that when national governments align themselves with the Government of Nature, they will have a new sunshine of problem-free administration. Since the books have been on sale for some time and may soon be sold out, now is the time to order at 472-1101. Faculty Promotions and Titles Recognize Achievement BY MARY HOLM New promotions and new titles were awarded recently to several faculty members, including the appointment of a new dean of the College of Science of Creative Intelligence as well as Deans of Men and Women. The promotion of faculty members was announced by University President Dr. Bevan Morris on October 25 at the Faculty Senate meeting. Samuel Boothby was promoted to Dean of the College of Science of Creative Intelligence, and Denise Gerace was promoted to Chair of the Department of SCI. "I'm honored to have been appointed Dean and given the responsibility to promote Maharishi's programs throughout the University," said Dr. Boothby, who has been teaching in the Department of SCI for 10 years and was chair of the department for the past two. As Dean his responsibilities include overseeing the Core Course program, the Transcendental Meditation program, the College of the Science of Creative Intelligence, and the Department of the Development of Consciousness. Dr. Morris bestowed titles of Dean of Men and Dean of Women on Richard Neate and Dr. Pat Robinson, co-chairs of the Student Affairs Council. The titles blend administrative responsibility and academic rank, Mr. Neate said. "It allows other universities to more easily recognize the position and its function." "I appreciate being given the title," Dr. Robinson said. "The greatest honor is working with the men and women students. They're a joy and inspiration." In addition to these appointments, former students Leslee Goldstein and Sharon Long are the new directors of the Alumni Office.AMA Ecology Club Holds Benefit Concert BY Carol Hatfield The Organization for a New Earth (ONE) held a benefit concert last week at Barhydt Chapel. A variety of acoustic music, dubbed "Ecoustic" by club members, was presented by University students and local artists. Celtic folk music, vocal music, and drumming provided highlights for the event. ONE is a student organization formed to help students become more aware of ecological needs and to help them participate in environmental projects. Concert proceeds are going to the Southeastern Iowa Free Tree Program, which was started several years ago in Fairfield and has provided thousands of trees to over ten thousand schoolchildren and community projects around southeastern Iowa. ONE has been involved with the project since 1992. Lonica Kufner, one of the organizers, says that the event provided a greatly needed service. "We were happy to support the project because it is important to encourage children and parents to protect and restore the environment." Magazine Covers Faculty Music Research BY OKACHI KPALUKWU An article describing the Ph.D. research of professor Theresa Olson on the value of Maharishi Gandharva VedaSM music appeared recently in the October issue of India Worldwide. The article discusses, among other things, that Maharishi Gandharva music "benefits all cultures, peoples of all religions and beliefs, and all political ideologies." The research measured the feelings of 609 persons, both before and after they listened to classical Indian ragas, played in the traditional style. The feedback was positive. "Audiences," according to the article, "reported more love, more energy, and more tranquility after hearing just one raga." According to Dr. Olson, pure traditional Gandharva Veda music originated from Nature and conforms with all the Laws of Nature. And because it fulfills musical criteria Maharishi has identified for this style of ancient Indian music, the research benefits people all over the world. The criteria met are that it uses traditional rules of composition; the choice of raga is determined by the appropriate time of day; and musicians must have good training in these and other aspects of music. The modern revival of this music began in 1987 when Maharishi rediscovered the value of Gandharva Veda music for modern society. And since then he has sent more than 40 teams of Maharishi Gandharva Veda musicians to 355 cities in 55 nations to share this music with the rest of the world. This effort to make this music available for every culture also serves as part of Maharishi's Festival of Music for World Peace. Article Compares Vedic Psychology and Nordic Mythology ELSEBETH WEDERVANG MATHIESEN The Journal of Human Value recently published an article by visiting faculty Harald S. Harung from Norway, in which he compares Vedic Psychology and the Edda Poems of the Nordic mythology. Dr. Harung, who has been studying the parallels between these two ancient traditions for many years, points out that the name Edda stems from the word Veda, and means knowledge. In Norwegian "vite" means to know. His 15-page article includes many quotes of the most famous passages in the Edda poems, such as 'Voluspå', 'Rigs-tula', and 'Håvamål'. Dr. Harung explains that both the Veda and the Edda poems describe an underlying unified state, from where the whole creation stems. Dr. Harung feels that publication in this prestigious journal is very important, especially for the Nordic people who can see the parallels between their own roots and the Vedic tradition. "It will help them to accept as well as understand Maharishi's Vedic knowledge better," Dr. Harung says. Dr. Harung is currently living in Norway, and is researching higher stages of individual development and its effects on performance. Maharishi School Student Scholarship Rates High ELSEBETH WEDERVANG MATHIESEN Out of the one million students this year who took a standardized college admissions test, three Maharishi School students were among the 15,000 who qualified as National Merit Scholar Semifinalists: Kathryn Bettis, Devon Abram, and Heather Allen. Patrick T. Kennedy and Noah E. Schechtman barely missed, and received honorable mention. The National Merit Scholarship Program awards 7,000 scholarships worth 27 million dollars each year. According to Ellen Craig, the School's academic counselor, Maharishi School has an amazingly high percentage of National Merit Scholars. Since 1985, 15 School students have qualified for the National Merit Scholarship Competition, out of which six were Scholars, three were Finalists, and six were Semifinalists, she said. Both Ms. Bettis and Ms. Allen have submitted their material for the next stage of the competition. Ms. Allen has been involved in drama at the School for four years and wants to study English and journalism. "I really want to win this scholarship," she says. Ms. Bettis is currently enrolled at the University of Southern California in a student-resident program, finishing both her high school degree and her first year of college Cedar Rapids Airport Installs Art of Graduate BY JENNINE FELLMER Travelers going through Cedar Rapids Airport can now view a 2,000-pound, etched-glass mural designed by Patricia Innis, a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts program. The mural is part of the airport commission's plan to create "celestial art to fill the expanded areas nearing completion in the airport." The unveiling took place in October. Ms. Innis is one of four designers selected from over 50 Iowa artists to display her 8-feet x 19-feet mural, Transformations. The mural is made up of five panels of 3/4-inch-thick glass and portrays images of two astronomical observatories juxtaposed against a scene of the universe. "In all the major civilizations and cultures of the world there is a persistent theme of man trying to understand his place in the scheme of the universe," Ms. Innis says. "Looking to the sky gives us both, in the present and in the past, an immediate reminder of our connection to the universe, the vast scope of existence, and the power that knowledge has to transform our lives." Ms. Innis received her M.F.A. in painting and drawing in 1990 from Maharishi University of Management and her B.F.A. from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Her artwork has been exhibited at museums, colleges, and fine arts centers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, and Arizona. She is currently co-chair of the Central Iowa Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art and will be a panel speaker at the February convention in Philadelphia. She will explain her artwork in relationship to women's iconography and consciousness. Michael Cain, professor of art at Maharishi University of Management, was also selected to provide artwork for the airport: an 18-feet by 27.5-feet by 27.5-feet revolving sculpture of the solar system. Hu Hung Shu, another Iowa sculptor has produced a series of stainless steel panels with a mirror finish to produce the effect of reflected sky. The fourth artist, Tim Curtis, also designed an etched-glass mural using a theme of indigenous plant forms found in Iowa river beds.
®Transcendental Meditation, Science of Creative Intelligence, Maharishi International University, and Maharishi Sthapatya Veda are service marks registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office licensed to Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation and used under sublicense. The following service marks and trade names are licensed to Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation and used under sublicense: Maharishi Gandharva Veda, Maharishi Jyotish, Maharishi Sthapatya Veda, Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health, Maharishi Medical College, Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment, and Maharishi University of Management.
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Written and produced approximately twice a month during the academic
year by the students in the Professional Writing program at
Maharishi University of Management.
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