Side note: Donovan never went running home from Rishikesh

Currently touring British schools and cities to discuss the benefits of
Transcendental Meditation (TM), singer Donovan and David Lynch, have
announced plans to set up the Invincible Donovan University in Glasgow
or Edinburgh. Whether Lynch, whose TM foundation has spent some £2.5m
introducing the practice to schools, will teach at the University
remains to be seen. Critics of TM highlight how official courses
normally charge £1,200 to learn how to still your mind, contrary to many
eastern teachings, which are normally free. Donovan studied it with the
Beatles in India, while Lynch has been practicing it since 1973 and
recently wrote a book on the subject.

FORGET the faded towers of learning in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen or
St Andrews. Scotland has a bold new university to promote yogic flying
and national "invincibility".
Invincible Donovan University has been named after Scotland's "great
cultural hero".
Donovan, famous for Sixties hits like Catch the Wind and Mellow Yellow,
is regarded as a pioneer of flower power. He is also known for being the
first British pop singer to be arrested for taking drugs.
Students in the college will study education, health, economics and
music and arts, along with "total knowledge" and the "unified field". It
will promote national "invincibility" and world peace.
"It will be a regular university, but powered by this extraordinary
technique," Donovan declared yesterday, launching the project.
"Invincible youth, building a future of peace, surely that's only in a
Donovan or John Lennon song? But no, it's a reality."
Donovan and the US film director David Lynch have been touring the UK,
touting Lynch's campaign to bring transcendental meditation (TM) to the
children of the world. Lynch speaks, and Donovan sings. They were to
appear at the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh last night.
They went one better, however, launching Invincible Donovan University
at a luxury Edinburgh hotel, in a mind-boggling foray into Indian
meditation techniques that felt part like a cult and part like a
throwback to the Sixties.
It emerged the project was only 48 hours old, though three sites in
Edinburgh and Glasgow are under consideration.
"It's so new, it's so fresh, it's just been born, the intention has now
been created," Donovan said. "It's been in my heart and thoughts for the
last 40 years."
In early 1968, Donovan spent several weeks at the ashram of the Indian
guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, learning about TM.
The pair were supported yesterday by two Americans, Dr Bevan Morris of
the Maharishi University of Management, and Dr John Hagelin, quantum
physicist and president of the Maharishi Central University. They told
how US campuses boast golden domes where students can practise "yogic
flying".
Twenty minutes of meditation once or twice a day might seem reasonable.
It's believing that group meditation can influence whole cities or
countries - making them peaceful or "invincible" - that's a bit of a
stretch.
There was much talk of how orderly thoughts would spread their influence
outward to protect Edinburgh or Scotland from violence or terrorism.
Fewer than 1,000 students, it was said, could influence the whole UK.
Lynch directed the 1980s classics The Elephant Man and Blue Velvet, and
the cult hit television series Twin Peaks. Two years ago he launched his
Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and Peace to promote TM.
He has been meditating for 20 minutes every day for more than 34 years,
he says, and teaches the technique to his grandchildren.
He cut an earnest figure, with his shock of grey hair. "A group doing
advanced techniques will affect collective consciousness in the most
positive, natural way," Lynch insisted. "It's the unified field, all the
power that expands the ever expanding universe."
A CULT OR A WAY TO INCREASE CREATIVITY?
TRANSCENDENTAL meditation is the trademarked name of a meditation
technique introduced in 1958 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, taught through a
network of licensed teachers. "TM" advocates allowing the mind to
"transcend" by sitting quietly for 20 minutes with the eyes closed.
It is said to be derived from India's Vedic tradition. Critics say it
has the characteristics of a cult; followers say it's a simple and
natural technique that increases creativity.
Donovan encountered TM when he visited India with the Beatles in 1968.
David Lynch, the film director, says he was initiated in July 1973. He
recently wrote Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness and
Creativity. The David Lynch Foundation For Consciousness-Based Education
and Peace has put £2.5 million into promoting TM's positive effects.

if someone NEEDS to go to a school to learn how to meditate that person also NEEDS a kick in the head.

We have users on here who kick others to the head.

It makes you wonder how this will go over in the UK. I showed this article to a friend of mine and he says that there are laws against people opening up something educational and calling it a "university" unless it has a charter from the Privy Council. I don't think the Privy Council will give the Donovan the charter.

I can imagine the classes right now: sitting on a chair with the eyes closed for twenty minutes until the mind "transcends" to a different state

Like mentioned in the first paragraph about Eastern teachings, I take part in Dharma talks and lectures and try to understand meditation with Buddhist monks from around world on a weekly basis - for free, in the spirt of the Dharma.

Besides, I meditate each time I disappear in the foilage or glaciers of mountains. That's also free (except if it's a national park, where there are park fees...)

I don't willingly close my eyes.


Has anyone ever seen any image of SiddhÄ?rtha Gautama meditating with his eyes closed? Depending on how you want to see it....they're always half-opened or half-closed.


With most people if they attempt it with their eyes closed....they only place they will transcend too, is to sleep.





P.S. Now who I find interesting of late, is Ram Bahadur Bomjon aka Palden Dorje.

I used to meditate a lot when I was younger but these days I'm too high strung to even think about it. So yes, I probably need it more now.

I've also noticed myself being/feeling significantly less intelligent and having more difficulty retaining knowledge/information in the past few years. Maybe it's related, maybe I'm just getting old.

That said, I also used to draw constantly, which I found to be very meditative in a way. I hardly ever do these days, so that also may be a contributing factor.

I loved this book as young teenager:
http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Seeing-Dra.../dp/0553371460

Have you actually considered going to see a Neurologist?

I thought I'd seriously pursue Buddhism as a philosophy/religion for a long time when I was younger but was just never motivated enough. Also, my overwhelming conviction against organized religion of any type contributed to my lack of commitment.

Preach it, Grasshoppa, Preact It!