Marine veteran Paul Downs says that TM saved his life.

Bringing the gift of inner peace to those in need
from Enjoy TM News blog by Harvour Fraser Hodder, edited by Global Good News editor
1O December 2017

The United States faces epidemic levels of toxic stress and trauma, as evidenced by the opioid crisis and other symptoms of societal distress. These are all areas, where the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique has been shown to be uniquely effective.

The challenge is, how can we reach those groups who are especially at risk: students, women and children who are victims of abuse, veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, and many others facing financial hardship?

For those who lack the resources to begin TM on their own, local TM Centers across the nation, the Friends of the TM Program, and the David Lynch Foundation provide scholarships and programs to take the TM course. For over 13 years, these groups have taught TM to 600,000 inner-city school children, veterans with PTS, those suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, and many more.

In addition, over 6,000 people have learned the TM technique, thanks to the generosity of local TM Center communities. In seven years this national initiative has raised $6 million to guarantee that anyone wanting to learn TM can. Donations are made through TMFriends.org, which is part of the non-profit organization teaching the TM program. And 100 percent of the scholarship funds are used for those in need.

America’s best-loved creative artists continue to lend their support to the David Lynch Foundation. This fall’s “Change Begins Within” event raised funds to teach TM to 1,000 veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress (PTS).

Actor, producer, and director Tom Hanks, and actress and author Mary-Louise Parker led the benefit dinner on October 18, which was streamed from The Plaza in New York City to TM Centers around the country. Their conversation about TM, life, and creativity included Hanks recounting how he was “turned on” to TM: “I was backstage at a thing, and Jerry Seinfeld was in the dressing room…”

Many creative artists practice TM and support DLF programs, including Jerry Seinfeld, actor Hugh Jackman, and Brian Koppleman and David Levien, creators of HBO’s acclaimed series Billions.

David Lynch Foundation CEO Bob Roth, spoke from the new Rona and Jeffrey Abramson Center for Peace in Washington, D.C., giving exciting updates on ambitious efforts to bring the TM technique to veterans and others, with government support.

Bob Roth introduced highlights from DLF videos about students, veterans, and at-risk populations who have benefited from TM, from a Bronx high school to alcohol and addiction recovery programs to the story of a former Marine about his re-entry into civilian life.

Every day, in TM Centers around the United States, individuals come to learn TM with the hope that maybe, just maybe, they can find relief from some of the devastating effects of stress and trauma that have scarred their lives.

TM teachers in Boca Raton, Bethesda, and 300 other locations across the country do everything in their power to help individuals who face financial hardship by reducing course fees, setting up payment programs, and doing whatever it takes to make sure that they never turn anyone away.

The results are literally life-transforming for thousands.

© Copyright 2017, Maharishi Foundation USA, a non-profit educational organization.