Resort to Consciousness

Every informed adult knows that we are in a serious position right now: US election data reveals a stunning disparity in the philosophy and politics of our nation’s population; the […]

Is Providing Education for Girls Enough?

At an event in Morocco in late June, First Lady Michelle Obama stated that 62 million girls around the world today are being denied a basic education. This is an incalculable loss to humanity. Statistics show that one educated girl in a family can break the cycle of poverty in just one generation; more than sixty…

You Must Rest

Australian cartoonist Michael Leuning offered a profound insight regarding modern life when his cartoon character Mr. Curly declared:

I believe the world is sick with exhaustion and dying of restlessness… the prolonged ongoing state of fatigue to which our world seems to be rapidly adapting is ultimately soul destroying as well as earth destroying… love cannot take root in this sad situation…. love cannot take root in this sad situation…. Tiredness has become the most suppressed feeling in the world. Everywhere we see people…

The Shampoo Summit: Women as Peacemakers

Iris Zaki is an Israeli filmmaker based in London. She recently created an award-winning documentary called “Women in Sink” including a 7-minute segment called “The Shampoo Summit.”

Set in an Israeli hair salon called Fifi’s that is patronized by both Jewish and Arab women, the film is an intimate, fun, and revealing testament to the uncomplicated, natural harmonizing power of women, despite the neighborhood’s environment of racism and fear.

Motherly Love: From Mothers and Others

What does it take to be a mom? Are all women cut out for it? Are women without children deprived of the blessing of giving that most tender unqualified love?

Mothering is for everyone

Intuition, patience, wisdom, love—all the divine qualities associated with motherhood—often depend on how rested we are mentally and physically as well as how aligned we are with our emotional virtues and the most…

The Pursuit of Happiness: Recreational Drug Use, Addiction, and TM

The British comedian and actor Russell Brand said that in his life, especially in the area of drug addiction, the Transcendental Meditation (TM) practice granted him a radical turnabout. Since learning the TM technique in 2009, his life has gained unanticipated stability—drug free and happier than ever before. Regarding his TM practice, he affirms, “It’s really good if you’ve had addiction issues.”

A Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner on Anxiety, Depression, Hormones, and Medication

Maribeth Flood is a licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner in the state of Washington. She earned her B.S.N. from Louisiana State University Medical Center and her M.S. from Tulane University. She is a respected speaker and published writer and is currently in private practice.

Maribeth is also a certified teacher of the Transcendental Meditation program. I sat down with her to find out how these two…

Transcendental Meditation and Psychotherapy: Interview with Dr. Samantha Smithstein

Do you think that being in therapy rules out the reasons for learning to meditate? It might surprise you to know that many psychologists not only recommend that their clients learn the Transcendental Meditation technique, but also have learned TM for their own benefit. I asked for clarification from Dr. Samantha Smithstein, a psychologist who learned TM 5 years ago and continues to meditate regularly.

Samantha Smithstein, Psy.D., is a…

The Neurophysiology and Biochemistry of the Golden Rule

The “Golden Rule”—you’ve probably heard it many times and from many sources. This practical, yet sage, advice is found in most ethical traditions and religions: if you want to do the right thing in relationships, then behave toward others as you’d have others behave toward you.

Aging: Who is that in the mirror?

When I was in my early 30s and my grandmother was in her 90s, we stood together gazing into a mirror, admiring her new pink winter coat. Suddenly her face betrayed confusion and despair. “Who is this?” she murmured, “I’m only 18 years old!