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Department of Maharishi Vedic Science

Programs

About us

The Department of Maharishi Vedic Science provides the systematic knowledge and experience of pure consciousness, Ātmā, the Self of every individual, as brought to light by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This unmanifest self-referral field of pure intelligence at the basis of the thinking process is the source of all thought and action.

The study of Maharishi Vedic Science develops the full potential of the knower and lays the foundation for complete knowledge of any discipline, while it fosters evolution to higher states of consciousness and progressive and fulfilling action and accomplishment in life.

Maharishi Vedic Science

Maharishi Vedic Science is the systematic study, experience, and development of the full range of life, both individual and cosmic, and its applications to create a better world. Its principles and technologies are based on the direct experience and understanding of the most vital element in life — the unbounded field of consciousness that is the inner intelligence at the basis of every individual and the entire universe.

This science, as developed by MIU’s founder Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, provides practices that allow each student to experience directly the infinite and timeless value of their own Self — unbounded pure consciousness, the simplest form of human awareness. Experience of the limitless field of pure consciousness, or pure intelligence, improves one’s life because consciousness is the core of each student.

Consciousness and Human Potential

The degrees in consciousness and human potential address questions about the nature and range of individual consciousness from the perspective of modern science and from the perspective of Maharishi Vedic Science. Discussions of the full range of life are supported by direct experience and understanding of pure consciousness, the inner intelligence at the basis of every individual and the entire universe.

Faculty

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Fred Travis, PhD Chair of the Department of Maharishi Vedic Science

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Dr. Travis is Professor of Maharishi Vedic Science, Chair of the Department of Maharishi Vedic Science, Dean of the Graduate School, and Director of the Center for Brain, Consciousness, & Cognition. He earned an MS and a PhD in Psychology from Maharishi International University and a BS in Design and Environmental Analysis from Cornell University. His research interests are in psychophysiological correlates of higher states of consciousness; psychophysiological correlates of reading Vedic literature; investigation of models of higher states of consciousness; the effects of Transcendental Meditation® practice on child development; and the effects of Transcendental Meditation practice on promoting healthy aging. Curriculum Vitae >

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William Sands, PhD Dean of the College of Maharishi Vedic Science

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Dr. Sands is Dean of the College of Maharishi Vedic Science and Professor of Maharishi Vedic Science. He earned an MA and PhD from Maharishi International University, an MSCI from Maharishi European Research University, and a BSBA from Georgetown University.

He is the author of five books:

He has also published a number of articles, including:

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Thomas Egenes, PhD

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Dr. Egenes earned an MA and PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia; an MA in Higher Education Administration from Maharishi International University; BA in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Egenes is Professor of Maharishi Vedic Science & Sanskrit. Curriculum Vitae >

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Sue Brown, PhD

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Dr Brown'a doctoral research at MIU was on student development in the context of higher states of consciousness, focusing on Maharishi’s application of the unifying knowledge of Yoga. She gained her BA in Literature and Music at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and her MA in Higher Education Administration from MIU. Dr Brown is Associate Professor of Maharishi Vedic Science and Associate Dean of Academic Programs.

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Rod Eason, PhD

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Dr. Rod Eason is Vice-President of Enrollment and Student Affairs and a member of the President’s Cabinet. He has been a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation program for more than 30 years. Dr. Eason earned his MA and PhD in Maharishi Vedic Science from MIU. He received the Veda Vyasa Award for the most outstanding dissertation, where his research connected objective and subjective methods of gaining knowledge, Maharishi Vedic Science and consciousness, and also the unified field of physics with pure consciousness. In addition, he explored the nature of time and the influence of impulses of creative intelligence active on different days. He is Assistant Professor of Maharishi Vedic Science.

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Karen Aoki Kouider, PhD

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Karen Aoki Kouider grew up in Tokyo, Japan, where she trained in Western classical flute. At 15, she traveled to the United States to study at the Interlochen Arts Academy and the Eastman School of Music. After completing a bachelor’s degree in music, her interest turned towards meditative practices and Vedic knowledge, which led her to pursue a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in Maharishi Vedic Science at MIU, where she also studied Indian classical flute with Binay Krishna Baral. For her Ph.D., she investigated the therapeutic potential of reciting from 36 branches of Vedic literature in Sanskrit in conjunction with regular practice of Transcendental Meditation and the TM-Sidhi program. Karen is currently Assistant Professor of Maharishi Vedic Science at MIU where she enjoys teaching courses on Maharishi's system of Yoga. She is also the co-director of MIU's TM Center which manages MIU's retreat programs, TM instruction, and refresher courses.

Patricia Saunders

Patricia Saunders, PhD

Patricia Saunders

Patricia Saunders has taught Maharishi Vedic Science courses at MIU and co-authored a book on collective consciousness and the Maharishi Effect, An Antidote to Violence: Evaluating the Evidence. Dr. Saunders lives in Fairfield, Iowa, where she enjoys reading Vedic Literature, walking, and listening to music. She is Assistant Professor of Maharishi Vedic Science.

Keith Wegman

Keith Wegman, PhD

Keith Wegman

Dr. Wegman received his PhD in Maharishi Vedic Science from Maharishi International University in 2004, his MA in Science of Creative Intelligence from Maharishi International University in 1993, and BA in Philosophy/Art from St. Olaf College in 1991. Dr. Wegman has taught numerous undergraduate and graduate level courses in Sanskrit and Maharishi Vedic Science and has researched and lectured in these subjects both nationally and internationally over the last 25 years. He is also a Certified Teacher of Transcendental Meditation and is the Director of TM instruction at the Raj Ayurveda Health Spa. He lives in Fairfield, Iowa with his wife Sankari and two children Jayanta and Uma. Dr. Wegman is Assistant Professor of Maharishi Vedic Science and Sanskrit.

John Greco

John Greco, PhD

John Greco

For more than 30 years John Greco, PhD, Syracuse University, has taught a full range of courses in Maharishi Vedic Science at Maharishi International University in Fairfield and Maharishi Open University in Vlodrop, Holland. In addition, Dr. Greco has been a university administrator including Dean of Faculty at MIU. He also worked under Maharishi’s direct guidance to establish Maharishi University of World Peace in the USA. Dr. Greco is currently Program Director of the MA in Reading the Vedic Literature. He enjoys teaching, learning, reading the Vedic Literature, walking, gardening, and living in the sublime atmosphere of Fairfield. Dr. Greco is Program Director of the MA in Reading the Vedic Literature.

John Collins (2)

John Collins, MA

John Collins (2)

John Collins has had a wide-ranging career in government, business, politics, the non-profit sector, and education. His core interest is the application of the Vedic knowledge of consciousness into the fields of personal growth, world peace, paradigm revision in modern science, and sustainability. He has been with Maharishi International University for 9 years, and has received several teaching awards. John has a joint honors degree from Bristol University, England, in Philosophy and Economics and a Masters in Maharishi Vedic Science from Maharishi International University. John is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Maharishi Vedic Science.

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