Great Reasons to Meditate An Introduction to the Transcendental8 Meditation® program Success RAY DALIO President & CIO, Bridgewater Associates Equanimity RAMANI AYER Chairman & CEO, The Hartford Health DR. GARY KAPLAN Neurologist, New York University School of Medicine Focus RUSSELL SIMMONS Chairman & CEO, Rush Communications Balance DR. NANCY LONSDORF Author, The Ageless Woman Creativity DAVID LYNCH Film Director Efficiency BOB JONES Investment Manager Happiness MINDY WEISEL Artist CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE 8 Great Reasons TO Meditate an introduction to the transcendental meditation program Success1 Equanimity2 BE RESTED Ray Dalio BE CENTERED Ramani Ayer Physiological indicators of rest Inner calm notice a difference from the moment I start to medi- leader has to be capable of seeing the future—of Respiration Basil Skin Plasma 10 0% Rate Conductance Lactate 0 tate. I can be stressed or tired and I will meditate p<.01 embracing bold, positive ideas and setting very -.1 “ 75% “ -.2 and immediately I will get very rested and relaxed ambitious goals. A leader has to have the capacity 50% -.3 -.4 and the stress will flow off me. I’ll finish meditation feeling to understand, in very harsh, real terms, what is going on 25% -.5 I A refreshed and centered, and that feeling will carry through- at the ground level of his business—what are its strengths, -.6 Change in galvanic skin resistance after 20 minutes of practice 0% Change during practice compared to eyes-closed controls (standard deviation) p<.05 p<.05 p<.01 out the day. It’s a heck of a return on an investment of twenty Controls TM its weaknesses, its opportunities and challenges. I have been Meta-analysis is a procedure for minutes! Individuals who practiced the practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique for over drawing definitive conclusions from Transcendental Meditation large bodies of research studies. “I want to emphasize: TM is practical. Some people may technique showed significantly 30 years. It has certainly helped me to consistently raise my A meta-analysis of all available increased skin resistance during the physiological research on the think it’s exotic—that you light candles and burn incense. practice, in contrast to controls. Skin performance levels. It has helped me cope with the stresses Transcendental Meditation program It’s not that—and it’s not some religion or dogma. It’s a resistance is an electrophysiological and strains of life. And I believe very strongly that the practice found that the practice of this measure of calmness or restfulness. technique produces a state of deep practical tool that makes life go better. Reference: Physiology & Behavior of TM has helped me to maintain a steady state of mind—it rest compared to control conditions, 35: 591–595, 1985. as measured by reduced respiration “I started meditating over 35 years ago, and I would say has given me equanimity no matter what happens.” rate, reduced basal skin conductance TM is the single most important reason for whatever suc- (increased skin resistance), and Mr. Ayer is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Hartford, which is reduced plasma lactate. cess I’ve had.” one of the nation’s largest financial services and insurance companies. Reference: American Psychologist 42: 879–881, 1987. Mr. Dalio is the Founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer, Bridgewater Associates, which manages $150 billion in global investments for a wide array of institutional clients. 8 Great Reasons TO Meditate an introduction to the transcendental meditation program Health3 Focus4 DEVELOP YOUR BRAIN Gary Kaplan, M.D., Ph.D. THINK CLEarLY Russell Simmons Increased use of brain reserves Broad comprehension he TM technique simply and naturally allows the ranscendental Meditation promotes stillness— Top view and ability to focus of head 40% mind to settle down to experience a state of inner p<.001 and when you are still is the only time you can 30% “ coherence and calm during which time the left “ think, the only time you can focus. When you 20% and right hemispheres, and the front and back of the brain 10% have distractions and noise in your mind, you can’t compre- T 0% T begin to work in harmony with each other. This brain wave hend properly and you can’t do your job. Comprehension Before TM During TM Controls Transcendental coherence has been correlated with improvements in memory, Percent improvement on rod and frame test Meditation comes from stillness, focus comes from stillness, and TM During the Transcendental Field independence has been Meditation program, early (sensory) problem-solving and decision-making abilities. In fact, every- associated with a greater ability to is the practice of touching that stillness for a few minutes components of the brain’s response assimilate and structure experience, to somatosensory stimuli are more thing good about the brain depends on its coherent, orderly greater organization of mind and twice a day.” widely distributed across the cortex, functioning. This change in brain functioning also affects the cognitive clarity, improved memory, indicating greater participation of greater creative expression, and a Mr. Simmons is the co-founder of the pioneering hip-hop label Def Jam, a the whole brain in the response rest of the physiology, reducing high blood pressure, strength- stable internal frame of reference. founder of Russell Simmons Music Group, and the creator of the clothing fash- to a stimulus. Reference: Human The results show that practice of Physiology 25: 171–180, 1999. ening the heart, and overall improving health.” the Transcendental Meditation ion line Phat Farm. According to USA Today, he is one of the “Top 25 Most technique develops greater field Influential People of the Past 25 Years” for his groundbreaking vision that has Dr. Kaplan is a neurologist and associate professor of clinical neurology at New independence. This improvement in Transcendental Meditation influenced music, fashion, finance, television and film, as well as the face of -mod York University School of Medicine. He is also the recipient of the Albert H. meditators is remarkable because it ern philanthropy. Douglas Award from the Medical Society of the State of New York for outstand- was previously thought that these basic perceptual abilities do not ing achievements as a clinical teacher interested in promoting and improving the improve beyond early adulthood. medical education of physicians. Reference: Perceptual and Motor Skills (39: 1031–1034, 1974. 8 Great Reasons TO Meditate an introduction to the transcendental meditation program Balance5 Creativity6 BE LESS StrESSED Nancy Lonsdorf, M.D. ENJOY Your LIFE David Lynch Reduced high blood pressure Increased creativity Health Control Transcendental hen you meditate, job stress affects you less, 30 he Transcendental Meditation technique is a Education Technique Meditation 0 and that has immediate benefits for your p=.0005 simple, effortless way to ‘dive within,’ to expe- -2 “ 20 “ -4 health and happiness. It also naturally fol- rience an ocean of pure consciousness, pure -6 10 -8 lows that you enjoy your work more, are more productive, creativity, pure knowingness. It’s a unique experience but -10 W Torrance of Creative Test Thinking post-test scores 0 T p<.005 and find it easier to get along with co-workers. But equally also very familiar—it is your own Self. I have never missed Change in systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) -12 Controls Transcendental important, you don’t carry stress from the office home with Meditation a meditation in 34 years. I meditate once in the morning Patients with high blood pressure This study used the Torrance Test who learned the Transcendental you. You have better relationships with your family and of Creative Thinking to measure and once in the afternoon for about 20 minutes each time. Meditation program showed a friends, and you enjoy your life more. It’s clear from the figural and verbal creativity in Then I go about the business of my day. I find the joy of the significant reduction of systolic a control group and in a group and diastolic blood pressure after research that spending a few minutes twice a day to practice that subsequently learned the ‘doing’ increases. Creativity increases. Intuition increases. three months, in contrast to those Transcendental Meditation technique. randomly assigned to a control TM is extraordinarily helpful in achieving balance between On the post-test 5 months later, the The pleasure of life grows. And negativity recedes.” technique or to those who received your work and the rest of your life.” Transcendental Meditation group health education on how to reduce scored significantly higher on figural Mr. Lynch is an award-winning filmmaker Blue( Velvet, Twin Peaks, Mulholland blood pressure through diet and originality and flexibility and on exercise. Reference: Hypertension 26: Dr. Lonsdorf is a specialist in women’s health; author of A Woman’s Best Medicine verbal fluency. Reference: Journal of Drive, INLAND EMPIRE), photographer, painter, songwriter, and musician, 820–827, 1995. and The Ageless Woman and a popular lecturer, who has been featured frequently Creative Behavior 13:169–190, 1979. and author of Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness and Creativity. in the national media. 8 Great Reasons TO Meditate an introduction to the transcendental meditation program Efficiency7 Happiness8 BE ORGANIZED Bob Jones BE YourSELF Mindy Weisel Improved job performance Increased self-actualization 1.2 eople think they are so busy because