University of Virginia Library

The Advent Of Consciousness IV

By DAVID FOSTER

"Great expectations," I
think, might be an appropriate
theme, . . . Or maybe it's
possible that I never meditated
much anyway–not to mention
transcended. Or perhaps I'm
not even (alas) relevant.

But somehow, after an
hour's briefing on the
value-added theories of
Mahareshi Mahesh Yogi, I find
myself no nearer to grasping
the complexities of life, the
realities of love and war, the
secret of who I am and where
I'm going, or even a novel
three-and-a-half-point-plan-for-ending-the-war.
But apparently
there are others in the same
starship.

"Transcendental
meditation," explained local
Students International
Meditation Society
representative Larry Wardwell,
"is sort of like learning to
walk. . . "

(–that I've mastered–)

"–Everyone has the innate
ability, yet it takes a little
guidance to actually learn."

BRAINWAVES

Still, some 150,000
Americans, according to Mr.
Wardwell, currently indulge in
the daily routine code-named
TM (transcendental meditation
largon), about sixty per cent of
whom are students, generally
more receptive to
mind-expanding projects.
Actually, he pointed out, that
proportion is down from
around eighty per cent a
couple of years ago.

"TM has been shrouded in
the garb of mysticism for many
years, I think. It's something
which you might say time has
taken its toll on. It has
generally in the past been
associated with more cloistered
people, such as monks. By
subjecting itself to scientific
investigation, it has become
much more susceptible to
different types of people."

And "subjected"–if not
"submerged"–is an apt term.
Among the other fun-facts I
now know-and-occasionally-tell:

(1) Metabolic rate, as
measured by oxygen
consumption, decreases by
approximately sixteen per cent
during TM;

(2) The number of breaths
per minute is often cut in half
in the process; and,

(3) Cardiac output may vary
by as much as thirty per cent...
downward.

Your chances of
transcending worldly existence
itself in such a state?

Actually, brainwave study
indicates significant
improvement in both reaction
time and perceptiveness during
this state of "restful alertness."
Indeed, transcendental
meditation is now widely
considered a fourth major state
of consciousness (in addition
to wakefulness, sleep, and
dreaming).

SPONTANEITY

"The clarity of mind gained
through TM is even greater
than that gained by sleeping,"
asserted Mrs. Wardwell. "And
when a person's mind is
clearer, he is less subject to
negative moods such as anger
and depression."

As Mr. Wardwell put it, "In
order to act, we have to think;
so naturally, if we increase our
creative intelligence, our
actions will reflect it."

In order to improve one's
thinking, however, he must go
beyond thinking; he must
come into contact with the
very source of thought–"the
way a diver goes to the bottom
of a pond and brings some of
the coolness back up with him
to the surface."

The results: more energy,
more happiness, a more
creative mind. . .though not as
defined objectives or goals.

"You don't concentrate
during TM," Mrs. Wardwell
emphasized. "If a person were
to concentrate, it would keep
him on the surface level rather
than on the level of true
transcendental meditation,
simply because he would have
to keep reminding himself to
concentrate."

As Mr. Wardwell described
the experience, "You sit down,
close your eyes, and
spontaneously enter the
technique of meditation. I

think that's one of the hardest
things for people to accept,
that it is so spontaneous."

How then, does one learn to
meditate transcendentally? In
seven simply spontaneous
steps, the first having been this
past Wednesday evening's
get-together. Prospective
ruminators, however, may still
catch the next lecture, still two
weeks away, after which those
still orbitally obligated may
make arrangements for
personal instruction, to begin
in another two weeks. Finally,
after four consecutive days of
individual hour-and-a-half
sessions, the applicant will
hopefully have merited his
sheepskin, water-buffalo hide,
whatever.

FINANCES

Tuition for the entire trip
afield amounts to a forty-five
dollar contribution to the
International Meditation
Society, or seventy-five dollars
for non-students (the primary
reason, aside from editors, for
the serial once contemplated
ending with this installment).
The offer also includes the
chance to volunteer in aiding
research at the University's
Sleep and Dream Lab, for
those who have trouble
accomplishing either outside
the classroom.

Once licensed, the
practicing T.M. generally delves
into his subconscious twice a
day, twenty minutes morning
and eve.

THE SPOILS

"As we meditate more,
more values are brought out in
our life," claimed Mrs.
Wardwell.

"Different people will
notice different things. If a
person's normally very tense,
for example, he'll notice more
relaxation. No great revelations
come along in TM."

"No religion or philosophy
is involved," Mr. Wardwell
agreed. "TM is not a life style
which involves any ascetic
practices.

"The effects I noticed were
very gradual," he continued.
"One of the first things I
noticed, for example, was that
I could chop wood better."

In general, the results of
transcendental meditation are
not an objective or goal, but a
more profound personal
renaissance.

"TM is a direct experience
more than an intellectual
understanding," Mr. Wardwell
summarized.

"The effect is simply one of
expanding the conscious
capacity of the mind."

. . .Expanding the capacity
of the mind. Little wonder I
never got off the ground, so to
speak. . . .

–but now, a moment of
silent meditation. . . .