Filmmaker wants TM in every school

Says kids doing Transcendental Meditation will create 'a wave of peace'

A Hollywood filmmaker who practices a specific form of Transcendental Meditation is helping one leader of the movement in his quest to bring the activity to every school worldwide.

Promoted by filmmaker David Lynch, His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's global peace initiative also includes establishing "groups of peace-creating experts in every country," according to a press release from the director.

An interview with Lynch is featured in this month's edition of United Airlines in-flight magazine, Hemispheres.

"Extensive published scientific research has shown that practice of the TM technique optimizes brain functioning, improves academic performance, increases IQ, improves health, and reduces stress, anxiety, and depression among meditating students," says the statement.

"Maharishi's global peace plan calls for opening schools in every country where students will practice the Transcendental Meditation program and Yogic Flying in groups to create coherent national consciousness – the basis of peace and invincibility for the nation."

A foundation started by Lynch hopes to raise $7 billion to establish and endow "peace-creating" educational institutions throughout the world.

According to Lynch, the following schools already have students practicing TM:

* Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse of Detroit (K–8), a public charter school that has offered TM to hundreds of students;

* Chelsea School (K–8), a private school for children with ADHD in Silver Spring, Md., which uses TM to "reduce anxiety";

* Public high schools in Augusta, Ga., where the TM program was taught as part of a federally funded study to reduce blood pressure in African-American teens;

* Maharishi School (K–12) in Fairfield, Iowa, "where for 20 years all the students have practiced the TM technique and regularly score in the top 1 percent of the nation on standardized tests."

"The first goal is to get 10,000 students practicing Transcendental Meditation in the U.S. to create a wave of peace in America that will be a catalyst for peace in the world," Lynch told Hemispheres. "It will be a peace-meditating group like a factory that pumps peace around the world."

Lynch says he also wants to establish seven "Universities of Peace."

"Imagine a university with at least 8,000 students," he explained. "Imagine them all knowing how to dive within, enliven the unity within themselves, and know themselves. Then they do their program together in a group, and that group is very powerful. Eventually, they will bring harmony and coherence and peace in the world."

Lynch, who has been practicing TM for more than 30 years, says he meditates for 20 minutes twice daily. His film credits include "The Elephant Man," "Blue Velvet," "Twin Peaks" and "Lost Highway."