--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "George DeForest" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Blank > Chicago Sun Times > 22 April 2005 > > Maharishi's message of the dawning of a golden age is catching the eye of > the media. In the column, Casual Friday, in the Chicago Sun TImes, staff > reporter Chris Whitehead cited a press release he received with a quote from > Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, ''Mankind has now entered the gate of a golden time > of affluence and peace for everyone born on earth.' > > Whitehead mused that before reading the press release he had intended to > write a piece complaining about money being spent on the Bush Social > Security circus roaming about the land. After reading the release he > decided, '...never mind. Sounds like those benefits will keep on coming.' > > Copyright © 2005 Global Good News(sm) Service. > > > the original article is here: > http://www.suntimes.com/output/casual/cst-fin-casual22.html >
> interesting to see the actual reference in its context... > compared to the movement spin on it. > ha, ha ************ Many of the postings on Global Good News go beyond spin. A typical example is today's posting of an article in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette -- here's the Global Good News version: http://www.globalgoodnews.com/health-news-a.html?art=11149708386442683 But the actual article pretty much said generic meditation was as good as TM, so GGN just cut out all that stuff. Not only is this a violation of copyright (which allows non-profit web sites to reprint articles as long as they don't modify them), but it's stupid for the TMO to ignore this genericizing tendency when it comes to TM research, which other meditation systems claim as their own benefit without the research -- by avoiding the true nature of newspaper writing about TM (which tends to lump all meditation together in a generic batch), the TMO ignores the object lesson that TM needs to have a strong brand identity, which is usually accomplished by having a celebrity spokesman do TV ads in which he touts the brand. One of many possibilities for TM would be Pat Sajak, host of the show Wheel of Fortune, who has mentioned on air that he does TM (because Merv Griffin, creator of Wheel, recommended it), a guy with strong public recognition -- and if he were featured in TV ads, then this genericizing problem for TM would be alleviated (of course, the price of TM would need to be lowered in order to run a TV campaign). I'm going to email the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette and inform them of the alteration of this article by GGN -- when I have done this before, sometimes the papers ignore it, but other times, articles have been removed from GGN after the newspapers complained (I don't keep track of specifics, but anybody who reads GGN and the original article can do this experiment for themselves). Both articles in full below (besides not altering articles to eliminate unfavorable refs to TM, GGN needs to get somebody who is a native speaker of English to do these postings, and also somebody who can spell or use a spell check, as the author's name is misspelled): GGN: Calm moments ease stress by Nancy Venderly, The Journal Gazette writer FortWayne.com Fort Wayne, United States 1 May 2005 On 1 May 2005 FortWayne.com reported: The Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard Medical School says over 50 per cent of US adults report high stress on a daily basis. To combat stress, this article offered information on various types of meditation, including Transcendental Meditation. It noted that TM has been instrumental in making meditation a mainstream practice in the US. It is a joy for Global Good News service to feature this news, which indicates the success of the life-supporting programmes Maharishi has designed to bring fulfilment to the field of health. The Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard Medical School says more than 50 per cent of US adults report high stress on a daily basis which, left untreated, can affect performance and health. The article noted that meditation is an ancient practice, but is quickly becoming a recognized method in modern times of treating stress and gaining mental, physical, and emotional benefits. Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a simple, uncomplicated technique which the article reported as the 'most prevalent' form of meditation in the in United States. TM has been the subject of significant research and has gained 'respect as a health-care practice'. The article noted that TM is known for is its profound effects on both the mind and the body. The author explained that a study at the University of California Los Angeles found that during the practice of TM, the individual experiences a unique state of rest in the body while at the same time achieving alertness in the mind. Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that individuals practising TM experience lowered blood pressure, decreased heart rate and metabolic rate, and reduced nervous system activity. Every day Global Good News documents the rise of a better quality of life dawning in the world and highlights the need for introducing Natural Law based—Total Knowledge based—programmes to bring the support of Nature to every individual, raise the quality of life of every society, and create a lasting state of world peace. Copyright © 2005 Global Good News(sm) Service. *** Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Posted on Sun, May. 01, 2005 Calm moments ease stress Meditation offers simple methods to quiet the mind By Nancy Vendrely The Journal Gazette With every breath taken, the human body is nourished by vital oxygen, but unless breathing is labored or quickened, it goes on largely unnoticed by most people. In, out. In, out. Every second of every day of life. Vital, unnoticed, and yet a ready tool for reducing the stress and tension of a hectic life. Controlled breathing, focus on breathing, awareness of breathing – these are elements of relaxation and meditation that can be employed at any time to slow one's pace, quiet one's mind and reduce stress and tension. Dr. Herbert Benson at the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard Medical School says more than 50 percent of U.S. adults report high stress on a daily basis and, left untreated, it can affect performance and health. While meditation is an ancient practice usually associated with religions and spiritual quests, in modern times it has been recognized for its mental, physical and emotional benefits. There are many types of meditation – walking meditation, mindfulness meditation, Zen meditation and Taoist meditation, to name a few. But simple meditation, an uncomplicated technique, and Transcendental Meditation, widely known as TM, probably are most prevalent in the United States. TM, which has been the subject of research and study, has been significant in bringing meditation to more of a mainstream audience and to greater respect as a health-care practice. One study at the University of California Los Angeles found that in TM the body achieved a profound state of rest, while at the same time, the brain and mind became more alert. At Harvard Medical School, researchers documented physiological changes that occurred during meditation, including a fall in metabolic rate, lowered blood pressure, decreased heart rate and reduced nervous system activity. This mind-body combination – a sense of restful peace along with a positive mental clarity and a feeling of rejuvenation – can create an island of healing in the midst of a busy, stress-filled day. TM is mantra-based, with a specific sound that is repeated over and over, aloud or silently, to allow the mind to stop working and settle into a rhythm. People usually are trained in this method by an instructor who assigns the mantra. However, simple meditation can be tailored to fit one's time and lifestyle and can be as easy as five minutes of focused breathing or as involved as relaxing muscles throughout the body in a sequential fashion. Ideally, meditation should be done in a quiet spot where there will be no disturbances, but Julie Scott Peters of The Serenity Center of Fort Wayne says even in a workplace it's possible to derive some benefits. "Put your hands over your eyes and take several deep breaths – in the nose and out the mouth – to calm yourself," she says. "If you have a lot of mind chatter, you need to quiet your mind. Think of a special place, such as a beach or the woods, that resonates with you. Focus on that and other things will go away. "Even five minutes of quiet time with your eyes closed helps. We live in such a stressful society, pulled in all different directions to meet people's needs, we need that quiet time." Tina Zion of Healing Arts Associates is an advocate of the benefits of brief meditation. "The two things people say to me most often are: `I don't have time; I don't have one more second to fit in meditation,' and they say they cannot get their mind to stop," Zion says. "I teach the Eastern way of moving into stillness, and I ask them to take only two minutes and incorporate it into their busy lives. You can do it while standing in the grocery line, while stopped at a red light, while on hold on the phone. Incorporate it for a very, very short time all day long – be in stillness for short moments all day long." Zion says this approach is "always about your breath. There are many things you can note: Feel the coolness as it comes in through your nose and touches the back of your mouth. Hear the sound of your breath; feel it go down into your abdomen." As for quieting one's thinking, Zion says, "If we go into battle with our thinking, we will always lose. So what I teach is to welcome thoughts, let them in and when they come, then get back to breathing again." Zion, who is certified in mental health nursing, believes meditation, even in brief spurts, is not about concentrating, but about releasing. "When you work at it, you get in your own way," she says. Indeed, sensory input is almost impossible to avoid. The International Association of Mind-Body Professionals says most people are constantly engaged in mental activity but meditation is one way to diminish that rush. Longer periods of meditation, from 10 to 20 minutes, begin by focusing on an object, a sound or word or the breath. With practice, random thoughts diminish and a sense of calm and peace takes over. It doesn't require a lot of trappings, but some people enhance their meditation setting with candles, music and low lighting. "You can create a sacred place, a sacred time," Peters says, "and use the same place and same time every day to meditate. It's amazing, the clarity it brings." Rose Schamberg, who has studied yoga for many years and teaches relaxation and meditation classes for women at Fort Wayne Community Schools Neighborhood Connection, prefers to meditate first thing in the morning. "It strengthens me for the day ahead," Schamberg says. "I have more strength to deal with whatever does come along. I'm calmer and more at ease, better able to handle whatever comes." In her six-week class at Neighborhood Connection, she talks about how stress can affect the body and teaches techniques to identify and alleviate it. She also teaches simple yoga stretches. "I don't think you can relax mentally without relaxing physically," she says. Even for a grab-and-go, brief meditation in the midst of bedlam, stretching can help. "Stretch your neck, your arms and legs and try to be right here in this moment now," Schamberg says. "If your mind wanders, bring it back. It's something we keep doing, so just be in the moment and bring it back. Be aware. Focus on your breath and your body." What if you can't reach what you feel is a meditative state? "If you're just able to sit quietly and breathe, that's fine. Sometimes, just breathing is good." Peters, who with Randall W. Smith operates The Serenity Center and leads a regular meditation group, says there are "many different types of music, modalities and tools to achieve mediation." The Klini sound-wave therapy chair is one example. She says it brings on a meditative state through vibrations and "theta music," which induces a semi-drowsy, somewhat detached state. Daydreaming often is cited as an example of a theta brainwave state. Peters says the chair "helps people who want to learn to meditate so they can do it on their own." Whatever type of meditation is practiced, it's important to do it regularly and to stay focused. Optimum conditions would include meditating at the same time every day, preferably before a meal, rather than after, and in a quiet spot used for nothing but meditation. Sitting with the spine straight and vertical makes for easier breathing and better focus. Learning from a teacher or in a group setting can be helpful for beginners, whether meditation is sought for stress relief and peace of mind or for spiritual reasons. Joan Borysenko, who has a doctorate in medical sciences from Harvard Medical School, has been a meditation practitioner for 40 years and has written numerous books, including "Inner Peace for Busy Women." She says the most common problem people have in learning to meditate is that they can't relax without falling asleep. She recommends sitting on a hard chair with the spine a few inches away from the back of the chair to ward off sleep. Borysenko also recommends at least 10 minutes of meditation a day to begin seeing benefits and thinks it's best done upon awakening in the morning, even before having coffee. The International Association of Mind-Body Professionals emphasizes there is no right method or technique for meditation. Individuals should find what works best for them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- To learn more • "Relaxation & Meditation for Women" by Rose Schamberg, Neighborhood Connection, fall session, fee; call 467-1075 for information. • "Meditation and Stress" by Tina Zion, Dupont Resource Center for Men and Women, 6 p.m. June 22, free; call 416-3009. • Meditation workshops, The Serenity Center of Fort Wayne; fee, call 747-9359. • Meditation gathering, facilitated by Tina Zion, Sophia's Portico, 9  a.m., the first Saturday of each month, donation; call 423-4770. • Occasional programs on meditation and stress reduction, Parkview North Women's Health Center, nothing currently scheduled; call 672- 6500. To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
