Global Good News: Excellence in Action

On 1 October 1975 in Fairfield, Iowa, Maharishi said that this holistic ideal of education is universal. ‘What has varied with time and circumstances is the definition of what constitutes a whole man,’ he said.

‘For the great educators of antiquity, knowledge of oneself, of the core of one’s Being, was considered the highest goal.’

The word education comes from the Latin root meaning ‘to lead out’ or ‘draw forth.’ This drawing forth of that which is within is the essence of the educational process.

The discovery that there exists within everyone an unlimited source of wisdom, creativity, and compassion has been made so often in history that philosophers have referred to it as the central thesis of a ‘perennial philosophy.’ The basic principles of the perennial philosophy are that human potential is unlimited and man can rise to cosmic or universal consciousness.

The perennial philosophy identifies the essential element of education as the knowledge of how to draw upon the vast resource that lies dormant in the depths of the human mind.

‘Educators today have come to realize that it is only through the development of full human potential that the high expectations and great challenges of the modern world can be met,’ Maharishi said. ‘The present time demands that life be lived in a holistic way. This demand of time is responsible for the emergence of the Science of Creative Intelligence.

‘The Science of Creative Intelligence comes as the timely fulfilment of the quest to develop man’s inner potential. This science of subjectivity contains the essence of both ancient Vedic Knowledge and the knowledge of modern science.’

It is called the Science of Creative Intelligence because it systematically studies the nature, origin, and development of creativity and intelligence, and incorporates a natural means for experiencing the field of pure Creative Intelligence within.

‘In this time of increasing specialization a system of education is needed that brings all branches of learning together in one holistic, integrated value, so that specialization no longer localizes the individual within narrow boundaries,’ Maharishi continued.

‘The requirement of the time is to put an end to the era in which life was a struggle.’

Through the knowledge of Maharishi’s Science of Creative Intelligence and its practical aspect, the Transcendental Meditation Technique, education will enable everyone to specialize in one field without losing the broad basis of all knowledge. The development, through Transcendental Meditation, of unbounded awareness along with the ability to focus attention will unfold the full potential of knowledge and the knower.

‘To enable the student to keep up with the fast pace of progress, education must develop in his awareness the fruit of all knowledge: being at home with everything,’ Maharishi continued. ‘This will allow him not only to cope with any situation that may arise, but also to enjoy and make maximum use of all situations.

‘By establishing the student’s awareness in pure consciousness, the basis of all disciplines and the fruit of all knowledge, the Science of Creative Intelligence structures the source and goal of education in the awareness of every student. In this way the Science of Creative Intelligence fulfils the aspiration of educators throughout time.’

"The potential of every student is infinite. The time of student life should serve to unfold that infinite potential so that every individual becomes a vibrant centre of Total Knowledge."—Maharishi