The group from Maharishi University of Management visited a village and were treated like part of the family by Mongolians who invited them to eat their food and share their home with them.

MUM faculty aid development in Mongolia, attend conference
by Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, USA, The Review
15 October 2012

Faced with an exploding economy due to vast mineral wealth, Mongolia is consulting with Maharishi University of Management (MUM) faculty to learn how to sustainably manage their growth, develop the individual as a whole, and retain their traditional culture and values.

Maharishi University of Management President Dr. Bevan Morris and faculty members Fred Travis and Lonnie Gamble were invited to Mongolia last month to present at a three-day conference at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology.

Dr. Morris spoke about Consciousness-Based education, Dr. Travis spoke about how the Transcendental Meditation technique develops the brain, and Mr. Gamble about sustainability. In addition, neuroscientists at the university have asked Dr. Travis to help them create a brain lab similar to the one on MUM campus, and Mr. Gamble was invited to help them develop a building similar to MUM's Sustainable Living Center. In addition, the former president of Mongolia invited the faculty to help document sustainability practices and to develop a reserve in collaboration with the United Nations.

Also presenting were MUM alum Jim Bagnola and, via videoconference, MUM faculty Jane Schmidt-Wilk and Harald Harung. Bill Goldstein, director of MUM's international expansion, and Tom Stanley helped organize the conference.

The deputy director of research and innovation in the School of Computer Science & Management at the Mongolian University visited MUM six months ago. After her return to Mongolia she learned the Transcendental Meditation technique, organized the conference, and invited the MUM faculty to participate. The purpose of the conference was to find the best practices for development.

"The people there are very open," Dr. Travis said. "They are close to nature and have a strong awareness of natural law. Most have spent part of their lives in the countryside."

The country has a population the size of Iowa, Dr. Travis said, in an area that would span from Denver to West Virgina, with a third of that being the Gobi dessert. Half live in the capital, and 30% live in the traditional nomadic way.

"They often refer to their 'nomadic perspective,'" Dr. Travis said. "At first I thought it was just flowery language, but came to realize they think differently. We see the world as parts and assemble that into a whole, whereas they see the world as a whole and break that into its parts."

The group visited a village and were surprised by the way they were received, Dr. Travis said. "The Mongolian people treat you like part of the family, even if they don't know you. They expect you to come into their yurt, eat their food, share their home with them."

Over 400 people attended an introductory lecture on the Transcendental Meditation technique held at Mongolian University. The country already has a number of Consciousness-Based schools.

© Copyright 2012 Maharishi University of Management