WELLNESS THE DAVID LYNCH FOUNDATION
Since its inception in 2005, the David Lynch Foundation has worked with more than 500,000 students
I t ’s like diving underneath a choppy ocean to the calm waters beneath. In this state,
deeply relaxing alpha brainwaves are present
How does TM differ from other forms of meditation? According to science, there are three basic approaches to meditation. The first is called ‘focused attention’, where you attempt to actively control your thoughts, clear your mind, or focus on your breath. This produces the gamma brainwaves that are associated with peak concentration. The second is ‘open monitoring’ which
includes many mindfulness techniques, where you learn to observe your thoughts or emotions dispassionately. This produces theta brainwaves, which are very slow and present during the REM stages of sleep. Thirdly is ‘automatic self transcending’,
which is transcendental meditation, where you learn to effortlessly transcend conscious thinking to achieve a profound state of calm, of inner wakefulness. It’s like diving underneath a choppy ocean to the
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calm waters beneath. In this state, deeply relaxing alpha brainwaves are present. Because of its simplicity and
naturalness TM is the easiest to learn – even a 10-year-old can practise it.
What are the benefits of TM? In a society where there’s an epidemic of stress, TM helps people achieve a profound state of rest at will. It’s been shown to instantly drop cortisol levels by 30 per cent – which is more than we get from a good night’s sleep. There’s also evidence that TM reduces high blood pressure as effectively as medication, reduces cholesterol, atherosclerosis and risk of stroke; and reduces anxiety, depression and insomnia. In addition, much research indicates
that TM improves memory, creativity and problem solving. It wakes up the brain!
How did you first discover TM? I was at the University of Berkeley in California, in the 1960s. It was a time of riots, strikes and anti-war demos. Students were being shot and tanks were parked outside. I wasn’t a hippie or a druggie but I was
looking for a natural way to overcome the intense pressures of going to school full time, working full time and dealing with the social upheaval all around me. A good friend who I trusted suggested I try TM. I’m a naturally sceptical person, but my friend was a no-nonsense kind of person so I decided to try it. Its effect on me was immediate and
profound. I experienced a state of rest and relaxation I never knew I could gain. My mind cleared up, I had so much energy and my grades soared. I knew I’d discovered something really special and I knew I wanted to teach this to inner city kids.
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