For the REST of Your Life
Dr Lane Wager International Director Maharishi Corporate Development Programme |
Everything we do depends on the
condition of the body. Our thinking, emotions, behaviour and activity, are
linked to the condition of our physiology. Think of a day when you had a good
night's sleep. The day is so active, bright and cheerful. Now think of a day
when you did not get a good night's sleep. We struggle with our work; we are
dull, irritable, and unhappy. The world remains the same, but our experience is
quite different.
Rest is the body's internal repair mechanism.
Whenever the body becomes rested it purifies and rejuvenates itself. This is
why doctors advises us to "take rest" when we are ill.
Rest is the most natural, effective way
for the body to eliminate stress. Doctors say that over 85% of all health problems
are related to stress. 'Psychosomatic' is the term they use. This refers to
health problems that begin in the mind—due to stress, anxiety—and then develop
physical symptoms (e.g. high blood pressure, insomnia, headaches, etc.). Stress
related diseases are increasing yearly. This indicates that the rest we get
during sleep is not sufficient to eliminate the stress we are accumulating
during the day.
General Motors spends more money on the
healthcare of its employees than on the steel used to make its cars. Stress is
very costly.
If we could remain well rested, and
thereby prevent stress from accumulating, we would have a much healthier,
happier life. But in today's supersonic paced life, rest is a rare commodity.
His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
offers a simple, effective solution. Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation (TM)
technique is an effortless mental technique that provides very deep rest to the
mind and body.
TM is practised for 20 minutes twice a
day, sitting comfortably with eyes closed. Done in the morning, it adds
freshness and vitality to the day. In the evening, after a long day of work, TM
is like a 'mental bath', dissolving the day's fatigue and tensions. A
"mini vacation" twice a day, as one executive put it.
What distinguishes TM from other types
of meditation is that it is easy and enjoyable to do. TM does not involve any
concentration, force, or control. TM has nothing to do with religion, belief,
diet, or lifestyle.
To understand what TM is, we only need
to analyse its name. 'Transcend' means to go beyond; 'meditation' refers to
thinking. During TM, the
mind goes from the surface, agitated level of thinking, to more subtle, less
excited state of thinking, until one transcends thought completely and arrives
at the silent oasis of the mind. Here the mind is completely calm and fully
awake.
Scientists refer to this vacuum state of
the mind as 'restful alertness'. Maharishi calls it pure consciousness, and
describes it as, "infinite silence and infinite dynamism together.”
Ashok Soota, Chairman of Happiest Minds,
says, “Apart from the daily and well-known values of TM, I have found that even
a short meditation is very useful as a quick re-energiser before a public event
like a speech and also exceedingly useful in stressful conditions.”
How does the experience of pure
consciousness in the mind, relate to the body? Scientists tell us that the mind
and body are closely related. Whatever happens to one, automatically happens to
the other—like a hand and a glove.
As the mind settles down, the physical
activity in the body also settles down. Pure consciousness in the mind
corresponds to the deepest state of rest the body can experience—measured to be
twice as deep as sleep. This deep rest is the antidote to stress and many stress
related problems.
For centuries scholars have said it is
very difficult to transcend thought and gain the state of perfect inner
peace. Not so. Transcending is easy because the mind experiences increasing
degrees of happiness as it becomes more and more settled. No effort is required
for the mind to go towards happiness; it runs in that direction!
"This has been a very simple, yet a
very powerful method to put you at ease instantly,” says Dhananjay Chowgule,
Vice President at Reliance Industries. “Unlike with a few other experiences
which require dedicated place, time and posture, TM is easy and simple all the
time."
More than 11 million people in 120
countries practise TM. Over 700 scientific research studies have been
conducted on TM, at 235 research institutes in 35 countries. Over 200
Indian companies have found TM helpful for their employees, including: ABS,
ACC, Aditya Birla Group, Airtel, American Express, Ashok Leyland,
Asian Paints, Axis Bank, Bajaj Auto, Bank of America, Bayer, Bharat Petroleum, BHEL,
Bharti Infotel, Binani Cement, Binani Glass Fibre, Birla Sun Life Insurance,
Bombay Dyeing, BPL, Capgemini, CESC, Chambal Fertilisers, Crompton Greaves, DCM
Shriram Consolidated, Daimler/Mercedes, Dalmia Cement, Dalmia Chini & Power,
Daimler/Mercedes, Dr. Oetker/Fun Foods, Duncans Industries, DY Patil Group,
Eicher Tractors, ESPN-Star Sports, Eveready Industries, Finolex, FLSmidth,
Forbes & Co., Four Seasons Hotel, GE Capital, Glenmark, Global Vantage,
Godrej, Grasim Industries, HCL, HeroMotoCorp, Hero Centre for Innovation &
Technology, Hewlett Packard, Hindalco, Hindustan Coca Cola, Honda Siel,
HSBC, Hughes Escorts Communications, Hyatt Hotels, ICICI Bank, IIM, Indian
Aluminium, Indo Rama, ITC Luxury Hotels, Jindal Photo Films, Jindal Polyester,
Jindal Steel & Power, Jindal Strips, JK Corp, JK Tyres, Jubilant Energy,
Khaitan & Co., Kotak Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Le Meridien Hotels, Leela
Hotels, Lupin, Mahindra Finance, Mahindra Heavy Engines, Mahindra &
Mahindra, Mahindra Logistics, Mahindra Trucks & Buses, Mahindra
Vehicles, Mahindra 2 Wheelers, Marico, Marriott Hotels, Maruti,
Meridien Hotels, Michelin, MindTree, ModiCorp, Moser Baer, Motorola, Novell
Software, Oberoi Hotels, Organic India, Pantaloon Retail, Perot Systems, PNB
Metlife, Ranbaxy, Reckitt & Colman, Relaxo, Reliance Industries, RPG Group,
Salora International, Samsung, Satyam, Siemens, Spice Communications, SRF, St.
Regis Hotel, Strides-Shasun, Style Spa, Sundaram-Clayton, SWIL, Taj Hotels,
Tata Chemicals, Tata Consultancy, Tata Marcopolo, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata
Tea, Tata Uniysis, The Uppal Delhi, TISCO, Toyota Kirloskar, Trident Hotels,
TVS Automobile Solutions, TVS Motors, V.M. Salgaocar & Bro., Vardhman
Spinning, Vodafone, Volkswagen, Whirlpool, Williamson Magor, Wipro Infotech,
Wockhardt, Xerox, Zuari Cement and Zuari Industries.
A study conducted at Harvard Medical
College and published in Hypertension, the journal of the American Heart
Association, found TM to be as effective as any drug for reducing high blood
pressure and heart risk factors, but without adverse side effects.
The largest health insurance company in
the U.S. did a five-year study on TM, published in The Journal of
Psychosomatic Medicine. The individuals practising TM had 87% less heart
disease than the average American. In addition, people over 40 years of age,
had 74% fewer doctor visits than people not practising TM.
Heyam dukham anagatam—avert the danger, before it arises. When the body is tired, the
immune system is weaker; we are more prone to illness and injury. When the body
is well rested, it is able to resist illness.
Watering the root of a tree nourishes
the entire tree. Similarly, the experience of pure consciousness, the state of
perfect orderliness, enriches all aspects of life: mental, physical, emotional
and spiritual.
K. K. Agrawal, former Executive Director
of Hero Honda, says, "I credit Transcendental Meditation for controlling
my blood pressure and for keeping me fresh and active throughout the day, thus
improving my quality of life."
Maharishi summarises simply, "The
whole value of life is very little if we are tired, if we are stressed. The
whole value of life is very much greater, more enjoyable, more accomplishing,
if the stresses are less."
Rest is the basis of good health.
Rest is the basis of activity. Rest is the basis of inner
well-being. For the REST of your life…..TM is worth a try!