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Muslim student enjoyed his studies at MUM Mohamed Samy travelled all the way from Egypt to join the Computer Science Masters program at Maharishi University of Management in May 2015. In a recent interview, he talked about his experience at the university as a Muslim student. Mohamed described many benefits of studying and being a practicing Muslim at MUM, as well as life improvements he experienced in the friendly, peaceful and family-like city of Fairfield, Iowa, US. “We all have this dream to travel and work abroad, to gain experience in America and other Western countries,” says Mohamed, “This is a great opportunity to expand your knowledge and get training experience.” Mohamed found that learning Transcendental Meditation "was a very beautiful experience." While he used to have trouble falling asleep and difficulty concentrating, he found that once he started TM, "It helped to calm my nerves." So he was able "to approach life with more calmness and clarity." Mohamed says that even though learning computer science takes a lot of effort and one's mind can get tired from the effort and high level of stress, at MUM he learned how to live a balanced life. He said that 20 minutes of Transcendental Meditation "really prepares you for the day. It prepares your mind for action. After meditation, I find that I am calmer, and my mental capacity is greater. It helps me in programming, studying, and absorbing the knowledge in a more profound way. The results were surprising even to me." Even with 15 years prior IT experience, Mohamed learned valuable new computer science skills in every class he attended. He said learned the concepts in his courses—even ones he had known before—from a very profound perspective and deeper level, since they were related to his experience in TM. He said that he and his friends benefited a lot from these courses at MUM. When asked if TM contradicts Islam, Mohamed said, "From my personal experience, and those who took the course with me, we didn't see any contradiction, because it's not a religion. There is no worshiping involved—it's a technique. You learn to allow your mind to go to a transcendental state." During TM, Mohamed points out, "You're not worshiping, and you're not even concentrating, your mind is experiencing the deepest level of rest. So it doesn't have anything to do with religion. I actually noticed that when I pray after meditation, I am able to focus more on my prayer. There's more calmness and more peace. So it's actually very positive from the religious point of view." Mohamed said that the Muslims at MUM have Friday prayers and pray Eid prayer together. They are able to do all of their religious practices at MUM. He says, "Everyone is welcoming and understanding whether you're a Muslim, a Christian or of any other faith. People respect you here. In all of my travels, I have found that this is the most open and welcoming place." Mohamed noted that Fairfield, Iowa, is a very welcoming small town with a lot of nationalities and a warm, family feeling. He appreciates its beautiful natural surroundings and wildlife, which he likes to photograph. He said that being at MUM gives one "a good opportunity to clear your mind, and calm your nerves and all your senses." He is currently enjoying a paid internship as a Senior Software Engineer/Solutions Architect in Fairfield, Iowa, where he and his wife live. The interview with Mohamed can be seen at Maharishi University of Management's website.
© Copyright 2016 Maharishi University of Management
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