Consciousness-based Education—Creating an Ideal School Environment
A key feature at the basis of Consciousness-based Education is the Transcendental Meditation technique which systematically develops consciousness and promotes enhanced functioning of the brain as measured by EEG coherence and a wide spectrum of outcomes: increased intelligence, creativity, wakefulness, tolerance, academic performance.
The students of New Village Charter High School come from extremely troubled situations. Many have parents who are in prison or have been deported, have given birth before high school, or have been sexually and physically abused.
As one teacher says, “They have these unbelievably difficult stories… you couldn’t even fit them into a lifetime for most people and these girls have already experienced them by 15.” The school implemented theTranscendental Meditation program to give them a tool to combat their traumatic stress.
Three Rift Valley community leaders speak about the positive experience of practicing Transcendental Meditation especially in education and promoting societal harmony.
“We have about 1,300 students here. 99.9% minority population. We have many students who are coming to us 2,3,4 grade levels behind, so it’s a major challenge. The gang presence doesn’t help the situation any.
But the bottom line is that we have kids who make it here day after day after day. They have side-stepped the many obstacles and minefields that have been placed in their way and they make it here. If they do make it here, we are obligated to try to make sure that they receive the best education possible.
In this video students and teachers discuss the benefits of implementing the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program at the Bronx High School For Law and Community Service.
Not only has TM helped to foster an atmosphere of peace and learning, but test scores have improved and students are feeling that “all the stress is leaving their body.”
Global One School in Kibera, Kenya. Kibera is home to over one million people with scarce access to clean water, healthy food, or education. Fifty percent of the population is under 15 years old. Most of them live on less than $1.00 per day. This project shows the impact of TM on their life.
Student 3: ” Slowly everything started changing and now there’s no fighting in our school – everyone is getting along.”
Student 5: “I’m just a lot less angry so it is also easier to talk to people and communicate and relationships are a lot easier.”
Teacher: ” We have a lot of students that are coming up and asking when can they learn to meditate, when can they be part of the Transcendental Meditation program and so it’s very exciting. We had great reception from the students, the staff and the parents.”
TRANSFORMING LIVES AT A GIRLS SCHOOL IN THAILAND
Acharn Yai, Director and Principal of the Dhammajarinee Witthaya School: These girls come from different provinces all over Thailand. They come from poor families, or broken homes; some are orphans, violently abused or at-risk of being sexually abused.
Dhammajarinee Witthaya School is the first and only Buddhist boarding school in Thailand. Bringing TM to the school is very useful because we give the students a tool to develop their consciousness. TM is a scientific technique which brings the mind to its most subtle level. It is a meditation technique – It actually allows the mind to transcend faster and helps us understand Buddhist teachings from a deeper level.
“When we think of packing our kids off to school these days we often worry about the problems; high stress, substance abuse, even violence, things that threaten a child’s education.
But can ten minutes of quiet time (Transcendental Meditation practice) really make a difference? The research says yes. The University of Michigan followed 140 of the schools 10 to 14 year olds.”
Rita Benn Ph.D. (University of Michigan Researcher): “They felt more connected, they felt happier, satisfied, peaceful and calm.”
“When our kids get broken down we need to change up some of our remedies.
“There has to be alternative approaches to open up the pathways to greater learning and comprehension. And one of those is Transcendental Meditation.
“It’s crazy how just sitting here for 20 minutes in silence can actually help you out that much.It helps me get that stress off of my mind.
“They look forward to practicing Transcendental Meditation because their lives are filled with such noise.”