For the REST of Your Life - Dr Lane Wager

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!