Maharishi International University
MIU Graduation 2026 | Full Commencement ft. Dr. Pedro Noguera | Maharishi International University
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MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter: @maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter: @maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
As a student in this program, you’ll acquire the knowledge and practical skills to elevate the health and wellness of both your community and yourself – on a relaxed, flexible schedule.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter: @maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter: @maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter: @maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter: @maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter: @maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter: @maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
All students and faculty at MIU learn the Transcendental Meditation technique.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
MIU is honored to partner with Operation Warrior Shield and David Lynch Foundation to support Veterans and their families.
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter:@maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter:@maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter:@maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter:@maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter:@maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter:@maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter:@maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
All students and faculty at MIU practice the TM technique.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter:@maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter:@maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
All students and faculty at MIU practice the TM technique.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter: @maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
All students and faculty at MIU practice the TM technique.
Learn more: exploremiu.org/home
Facebook: Maharishi International University / @Maharishi.University
Instagram: @maharishiu
Twitter:@maharishiuni
LinkedIn: Maharishi International University
MIU is the Home of Consciousness-Based Education. Our students and professors share a strong common commitment to personal inner growth, wellness, sustainability, and positive values. We support a progressive and inclusive campus culture that’s creative, dynamic, and focused on making the world a better, more peaceful place.
MIU is a nonprofit accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate programs — available online and on-campus.
The commencement ceremony this year fell on Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the abolition of slavery in the US. Commencement speaker Dr. Yolanda Lewis-Ragland expressed her belief that the recent declaration of Juneteenth as a national holiday is the beginning of true emancipation and can set the country free from a mindset that focuses on division. She also acknowledged the role of Consciousness-Based℠ education in developing the potential of every individual.
MIU presented three additional honorary Ph.D. degrees this year. Rena Boone received a doctor of education degree for her lifetime service to Consciousness-Based education and teaching the TM® technique. Ms. Boone taught at Maharishi School for 25 years and is currently the David Lynch Foundation’s regional director for the Washington, DC, area.
Master Zhang Gaocheng, an MIU alumnus and Daoist master, accepted an honorary doctorate in computer science. Master Zhang studied computer science at MIU in the 1980s and, after a successful career in the US, he returned to China to revitalize the Southern Sector of Daoism, which had almost died out. He has built a cluster of twelve grand Daoist temples and established the first Daoist College in Zhejiang Province.
Jeffrey Abramson, who served as chair of MIU’s Board of Trustees for the past 12 years, received an honorary doctorate of world peace. Mr. Abramson is co-owner of The Tower Companies, an award-winning leader in green building. He has supported MIU and numerous educational and peace-creating projects around the world. He is also a founding trustee of the David Lynch Foundation and the creator of the Rona and Jeffrey Abramson Center for Peace, dedicated to preventing conflict and fostering peace in war-torn regions.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Chair: Dr. Satinder Dhiman, Professor of Management, Woodbury University of California, USA.
Speakers:
Prof dr. Sharda S. Nandram, Professor of Management, Nyenrode Business at Universiteit, Netherlands.
Dr. Jerry Biberman, Professor Emeritus of Management, University of Scranton, USA
Dr. Anoop Kumar, MD, Emergency Physician and Mind-Body Strategist, New Jersey, USA.
Dr. Vaidya Priyanka: Aum Ayurveda, California, USA.
Dr. Satinder Dhiman, explores the symbiotic relationship between workplace spirituality and volatile organizations, as modulated by holistic leadership. Given the exigencies of the global pandemic and social unrest of today and the resultant uncertainty, we believe that managers and leaders can benefit from this integrative approach to managing and leading organizations during these turbulent times.
Prof. dr. Sharda S. Nandram will talk about the Dutch home care organization Buurtzorg Nederland, founded in 2006, is an evidence based management case without managers. The organization is considered as a successful practice and has been awarded several national and international awards for being a pioneer in home healthcare. Buurtzorg is also a best practice of self-management where there is no role for managers. The founders’ vision is expressed in this mantra: humanity above bureaucracy. By focussing on the client’s needs and creating decision making space through autonomy the nurses are highly intrinsically motivated which has resulted in becoming the best employer of the year for several years with a high nurse satisfaction score and a high client satisfaction score, high growth in number of clients, high effectiveness, and high productivity expressed as less number of hours per clients spent compared to similar home health care organizations.
Dr. Jerry Biberman will speak about Acting While Abiding in Awareness. There is a passage in in the Bhagavad Gita about abiding in the state of awareness at all times. The phrase is Yogasthah Kuru Karmani. ‘Established in Self, Perform Action’ (BG 2:48). While this seems to be a lofty goal for a person to achieve, is it actually possible to do so in the midst of daily pressures and stress inducing problems and challenges? Are there examples of leaders or executives who have been able to actually do so? Research on long term meditation practitioners, with most of the research concentrating on people who have done transcendental meditation, has shown that meditation over time leads to higher levels of consciousness, which at the higher levels includes greater awareness in the midst of activities.
Dr. Anoop Kumar’s goal is a practicing emergency physician in New Jersey. However his mission is to elucidate how a more complete understanding and experience of consciousness is essential to developing more rigorous science, unlocking human potential, advancing technology, and bringing healing to healthcare. Having spent most of his life exploring the relationships among consciousness, mind, body, and society, Anoop found that our understanding of these is outdated and incomplete. He's spent the last several years speaking around the world, writing books, and encouraging audiences to rethink consciousness and unveil a more fulfilling experience of life that also informs solutions to real-world problems. Anoop communicates his vision through the lens of the Three Minds–a framework placing consciousness at the heart of reality. Learn more at anoopkumar.com
Vaidya Priyanka
In business as in life, success comes from preparedness, preparedness both of the inner environment of our mind and psyche, as well as the outer environment of our physical spaces. What makes for fitness of mind, as it relates to work and business? How does one create the mindset, in practice, of long term wealth creation versus short term profit taking? How best can we context switch our mental states as we transition through our daily activities, so we can be fully present to each new interaction. Can we have speed of execution without the hurriedness that can subvert our focus. What colors of a workspace support conflict resolution, in contrast to creativity? To all of these questions and many more, the science of Kaya Kalpa offers us some unique perspectives. The consecration practices of Kaya Kalpa are all about optimizing these outer and inner environments so we can harness and perform to our peak potential.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Panelists:
Dr. Anil Gupta, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
Dr. Jane Schmidt-Wilk, Dean of Teaching and Learning, Maharishi International University, USA
Dr. Trilochan Sastry, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
Dr. Isabel Rimanoczy, Ed.D. PRME Working Group on the Sustainability Mindset, USA.
Dr. Ashish Pandey, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
Moderator:
Dr. Anil K. Maheshwari, Professor of Management, Maharishi International University.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Chair: Cathy DuBois, Associate Dean, Kent State University, USA
Panelists.
Allan Leslie Combs, Professor, California Institute of Integral Studies; Founder, Society for Consciousness Studies, USA.
Victoria Herriott is Dean of Faculty, Maharishi International University, USA
David Wick, Executive Director of the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission, USA
Mino Akhtar, author, Sufidialogues.com, USA
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Panelists:
Dr. Robert E. Quinn, Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan – Keynote speaker. In Pursuit of Flourishing: Helping People Learn From Social Excellence.
Dr. Edard Sarath, Professor of Music, University of Michigan. Black Music Matters: Improvisation, Consciousness and the Future
Dr. Judi Neal, CEO, Edgewalkers International
Moderator:
Dr. Dennis Heaton, Professor of Management, Maharishi International University, USA.
This keynote session focuses on flourishing. In the first fifteen minutes,
Robert E. Quinn will make a presentation on helping people learn from social excellence. Drawing on the last twenty years of research in positive organizational scholarship, he will offer a framework of high performance. Drawing from his recent book with Anjan Thakor, The Ecomomics of Higher Purpose, he will discuss why CEOs and other leaders are limited in their ability to recognize, learn from, or co-create social excellence. He will discuss the evolution in consciousness necessary to bring about the emergence of flourishing social systems.
Edward Sarath’s presentation takes Black Lives Matter into the realm of the creative arts, with the rich legacy of Black American Music (BAM) as a primary vehicle. A consciousness-based view of BAM illuminates underlying principles that open up powerful connections to an array of contemporary issues, including social justice, ecological justice, educational reform, transcendence of political and ideological divides, arts-based spirituality and peace. Improvisation, at the heart of a BAM aesthetics and increasingly recognized for its application across fields as seemingly disparate as business, engineering, medicine, social activism and sports, exemplifies the creativity principle that will be central to how humanity navigates the complexities and turbulence of the present moment. Meditation and corresponding understanding of human consciousness as intersubjective and transcendent of (even if linked with) the physical is a further principle that underlies the improvisatory creativity realm. Inspired by a long legacy of jazz innovators, such as John Colrane, Alice Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and John McLaughlin, who harnessed the improvisation-meditation relationship in their lives and work, the presentation will describe how the Black Music Matters project seeks to operationalize this principle through performances, workshops, educational reform initiatives and community engagement projects that bring attention to BAM as a rich transformative treasure that has long been in our midst but eluded recognition.
Dr. Judi Neal: From Workplace Spirituality to Global Consciousness
The workplace spirituality movement began in the early 1990s, primarily in the corporate sector, although there were beginnings of interest in academia by the mid to late nineties. This talk traces the evolution of the field from a focus on private personal practices to more systemic approaches within organizations to a growing interest in consciousness-based leadership at three different levels. Each of these levels has implications for education, coaching, and a collective shift in humanity to an awareness of our Oneness.
Dr. Dennis Heaton is Dean of the College of Business and Professor of Management at Maharishi International University, Fairfield, Iowa. He earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Boston University. He has published extensive research on consciousness-based education and the unified theory of leadership.
Speakers:
Dr. Subhash Kak, Professor of Computer Science, Oklahoma State University, USA.
Dr. Christopher Laszlo, Professor of Management, Case Western Reserve University, USA.
Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay, Senior Scientist, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan
Dr. Kathryn Pavlovich, Professor of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship, University of Waikato, New Zealand
Moderator: Dr. Anil K. Maheshwari, Professor of Management, Maharishi International University.
Dr. Subhash Kak recently proposed that space is not three-dimensional as we consider it to be but e-dimensional; 'e' here is Euler’s number and its value runs 2.71828… Since our cognitions are based on counting, we associate the nearest integer space of 3 dimensions to space which leads to our normal sense about its nature. The three-dimensional view of physical space is merely a convention and we can’t really check this easily at either the local or the cosmological levels. Newton took space to be absolute and to be three-dimensional. This was an extension of the Aristotelian view of the universe as a container in which the sun, the moon, planets and stars are embedded in perfectly concentric crystal spheres that rotate at fixed rates. In the observer-centric Indian physics that goes back to Kaṇāda, physical laws must be based only on substances, their properties, and their motion, but the experience of time and space is a consequence of the relation between the observer and the world being observed.
Dr. Chris Laszlo will speak about Quantum Worldviews: Convergence of Ancient Scripture and Quantum Sciences. The synthesis of quantum science and eastern spirituality, with the addition of “other ways of knowing” that go beyond rational-empirical analysis, creates a radically different ontology and epistemology capable of exercising huge, but often hidden, influence on how managers think and act. We aim to show that a transformation in mindset, at the level of the paradigmatic assumptions held by managers about the nature of reality, is key to accelerating individual and organizational behavior as a “force for good.”
Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay will speak on Maharshi Gautama's doctrine of doubt and time polycrystals. More than 300 years before the British scientists claimed for inventing logic (1901, Bertrand Russel), even in the villages of Bengal, logical fight was one of the prime cultures. Even now we could see the remnant of that great culture. I would like to describe 2600 years old Maharshi Gautama's work, where he proposed the brilliance of scientifically arranging the confusion and finding more confusions to solve a problem, not facts. This is just opposite to the logical understanding. In logic, we ask people to find facts to solve a problem. However, in the doctrine of doubt one is asked to find the biggest confusion, and then find more confusions inside, until they find facts. The resultant architecture of confusion (sandehakriti) is the solution of the problem. In this architecture of confusion, AOC, the facts lies at the bottom surface, and local plays and entertainments were organized as "logic fight". While discovering scale free temporal relations between the molecular protein, to their filament to neuron cells in the brain we found the AOC and that told us to consider Gautama's way to make decisions.
Dr. Kathryn Pavlovich will present the idea that it all comes down to vibration. It has been long understood that contemplative practices cultivate a form of inner wisdom that transcends the intellect/ego and in turn enhances a stronger connection to the divine. The need to better understand this connection between the inner life of contemplative practice and the interconnected whole is important as it dissolves boundaries between the self and the Other. We can integrate insights from quantum physics and neuroscience that may assist us in understanding the role that contemplative practices play in accessing this central spiritual order of things as it assists in a) transcending the ego, and b) taking us into a space that is vibrationally relational, interdependent, fluid and systems-connected. I argue that quantum empathy is this vibrational frequency that is both a wave and a particle and enables us to transcend self to engage with Others in a relational form.
Tony Nader MD PhD will discuss the story of consciousness, the most intimate and common experience of all people regardless of nationality, culture, race, ethnicity, belief, or self-identification. He will show how the systematic experience of consciousness is available to business leaders as a catalyst to transform both their lives and their workplaces, resulting in ultimate success.
Tony Nader MD PhD is a medical doctor trained at Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhD in neuroscience). For decades Dr. Nader worked closely with Transcendental Meditation founder Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the science of consciousness, which integrates modern research with the broad-based areas of knowledge stemming from the ancient Vedic tradition. The research includes landmark studies in peer-reviewed journals establishing Transcendental Consciousness as a fourth major state of consciousness, thus expanding the scientific understanding of enlightenment. Dr. Nader directs the international organizations that teach the Transcendental Meditation program in over 100 countries.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Panelists:
Dr. David Orme-Johnson – Keynote speaker. Professor Emeritus, Maharishi International
University, USA.
Dr. Frederick Travis – Professor of Vedic Science, Director of the Center for Brain,
Consciousness and Cognition, Maharishi International University, USA.
Dr. Carla H. Brown –Professor, Loyola College, Stitch school of Medicine
Moderator: Dr. Anil Maheshwari, Professor of Management, Maharishi International University,
USA.
Dr. David W. Orme-Johnson:
Transcendental Approaches to Oneness and Flourishing: Maharishi International University (MIU) was founded on the concept of Transcendence as key to creating ideal citizens and a flourishing world. At MIU, the transcendent has a very specific meaning. It refers to the infinite ocean of consciousness at the silent depths of the mind, which is also the transcendental basis of everything. This is the Perennial Philosophy, which is being explored in many different ways by the participants of this conference. At MIU, the practical technology for actualizing Transcendence is the Transcendental Meditation technique (TM), a subtle technology for settling the active mind to experience the transcendent in the silent mind, transcendental consciousness, samadhi.
Starting in 1970, we have been intensively studying the physiology and benefits of transcendence through TM, there now being over 650 studies. The research explores the holistic growth of Oneness in the individual through regular TM practice, such as reduction in stress, lower sickness rates, and reduced prison recidivism and increases in creativity, intelligence, and self-actualization. Research shows that Oneness flourishes in cities, states, and the world when only a fraction of the population practices TM, as indicated by reductions in crime and problems and increased mutual respect and cooperation. Other Transcendental approaches to increasing oneness and creating a flourishing world will be discussed in reference to the MIU model.
Dr. Travis will speak about the neuroscience of various types of meditations. A field model of waking, sleeping, and dreaming, called the junction point model, portrays waking, nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and REM dreaming as expressions of a single, undifferentiated state. EEG data from 7 right-handed men are presented that support this model. In the transitions between waking, NREM sleep, and REM dreaming, bursts of similar frequency EEG were seen that did not seem generated by known sleep mechanisms, suggesting a common experience available at these transitions. EEG spectra during Transcendental Meditation practice, designed to lead to the experience of the underlying field, an experience called transcendental consciousness (TC), were similar to those reported during the waking/sleeping transition. During the coexistence of TC and sleep, called witnessing sleep, the characteristic alpha activity of TC was seen along with the delta activity of deep sleep.
Dr. Brown will share students’ descriptions of their TM experience, illustrating that people are more alike than different when they adopt a systematic way to develop pure consciousness. Results are immediate and reliable. Understanding the research that explores mechanisms involved is an integral part the Loyola elective. Drs. Orme-Johnson and Travis lead modules within the elective. Just as the individual has the capacity to flourish, the society also has a similar hidden ability. Dr. Brown’s doctoral work at Harvard involved understanding how policy makers use promising new research. She examined how they evaluated a research study that found groups of people practicing advanced TM techniques correlated with significant reductions in crime, violence, and war and improvements in quality of life indicators. This was seen in over 55 studies. The research indicates that the inborn capacity of individuals to heal and rejuvenate can be multiplied to create an environment that disallows crime and war. This capacity can be harnessed in countries, states, cities, and within organizations.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 5: Research Papers: Workplace issues in Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 1: Indu Peiris “An Integrative Approach to Developing Subjective Well-being "
Paper Abstract:
Today, our jobs have become less secure as a lifelong career and more reliant on technology
where knowledge is shared real-time irrespective of the location or time. Although employees now have
more flexibility over how they work, they constantly must manage the challenges of balancing three key
areas: their mental and physical well-being; their family members well-being; and their work performance
and relationships. This paper focuses on work-life balance (WLB), and how subjective wellbeing (SWB)
can be sustained overtime. We assert that by using the theorisation of psychological distance in Construal
Level Theory (CLT) and Hedonic Adaptation theory, it is possible to get a deeper understanding as to
how temporal, emotional and behavioural demands are constructed and the effect of cognitive biases in
shaping our perceived situational awareness. We use a novel approach to conceptualise that it is possible
to achieve cognitive reframing and perceive the natural state of the situation to sustain WLB and baseline
happiness. Thus, leading to maintaining an overall sense of harmony in life by improving the subjective
well-being without overdependence of material well-being.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 11: Research Papers: Philosophies of Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 7: Larry Clay “Appreciative Inquiry and the SOAR Framework for Driving Innovative Capacity and Resilience towards Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems "
Paper Abstract:
A major challenge for community, business, political leaders, and all other stakeholders in cities is to transform their cities as sustainable ecosystems (CASE), to stimulate a healthy economy, and to promote mass social prosperity. Meta-organizing community stakeholders and organizations in cities with a macromanagement approach for sustainable innovation has been proposed as a means for addressing citylevel collective action by open communication, positive framing, whole system, generative strengthsbased solutions and quality collaborative stakeholder relationships. The Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Platform along with the Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results (SOAR) framework has been well studied as an effective means towards systems and city level effectiveness towards sustainability by the macromanagement approach. However, leaders, managers, and stakeholders have found it difficult to effectively measure a macromanagement approach such as AI-SOAR, specifically for city-level innovative capacity and resilience. Therefore, we first seek to develop a measurable model of AI-SOAR on innovation and resilience by conceptualizing, structuring, operationalizing, and measuring AISOAR. Specifically, drawing upon the social construction and macromanagement literature, we identify a meta-organizing governance structure of AI, and strategies of SOAR that are based on strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and results help lead towards CASE. Second, we propose a structural model where the operationalized system of AI-SOAR influences innovative capacity and resilience in the CASE. 340 city stakeholder respondents support both the measurable model of AI-SOAR and also the structural model by which AI-SOAR influences system level innovative capacity and resilience, particularly in cities. The study’s implication for employing an AI-SOAR platform on the city level sustainable innovation and resilience building is discussed.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 11: Research Papers: Philosophies of Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 6: HaiYan Song “Exploring the Material Aspects of Sustainability Reporting by SMEs: Toward the Construction of a Unified Field Chart of Sustainability Measuring and Reporting "
Paper Abstract:
Our time is going through a paradigm shift in the business world from more of a-profitcentered perspective to a global movement of people using business as a force for good (Scharmer & Kaufer, 2013). A new perspective on business profitability is now referred to as firm performance in a sustainability-driven context, where social and environmental values are of great significance. Many businesses have tracked and reported their sustainability management approaches, strategies and performance by using disclosure metrics (e.g. GRI-G4 guideline and GRI standards), or being evaluated through rating and ranking metrics systems (e.g Global 100) or applying for organizational certifications (e.g. B-Corp, ISO certifications). The key components of these metrics systems are their materiality principles, framework, measures, sustainability ethical foundation, and institutional context (Herriott, 2016). In conclusion, the values that underlie the sustainability ethics constitute the impulse of “intelligence” from the Unified Field in blue ocean section that promotes a sustainable, evolutionary, direction of change, from more abstract foundational levels of the UFC to more concrete application levels
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 11: Research Papers: Philosophies of Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 5: Giorgia Nigri “New Narratives: The Economy of Francesco "
Paper Abstract:
It is a visual paper. The Via Francigena is the common name of an ancient road and pilgrim route running from Canterbury in England, through France, to Rome and Apulia, where there were the ports of embarkation for the Holy Land. In the Middle Ages, it was the major pilgrimage route to Rome from the north. The Via Francigena of Francesco also connected the capital of Christianity with the holy valley of the Franciscan sanctuaries in Rieti (Greccio, Fonte Colombo, Poggio Bustone, La Foresta). Saint Francis had to follow this itinerary to go to Rome- to have his religious order recognized- and to go to Santiago de Compostela and the East, to preach the Gospel and the universal values of peace and love. In the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi you can admire the twenty-eight scenes that narrate the life of the Saint frescoed by Giotto. The scenes should have been twenty-nine, but at the time the noble families of the city, who financed the work, did not want to pay for the realization of the twenty-ninth scene that depicted the embrace of St. Francis with the lepers in Rivotorto (Bruni, 2020). The reason why the realization of that scene was refused was because the lords of the city did not want to showcase the presence of lepers in Assisi. They thought the city would have seemed less appealing so the painting was excluded from the narration. The poor, those who seem different from us, who question us with their presence, leave history, and its narratives (Smerilli, 2020).
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 11: Research Papers: Philosophies of Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 4: Subhashini Durai “The Concept of Consciousness Explored before 2000 years ago: An Analysis from Thirukural, a Tamil Literature"
Paper Abstract:
This paper presents how consciousness is an important quality of human being especially to a leader. Thirukural is one of the most prominent literary works in Tamil, known for its excellent and timeless elucidation of ways and values of life. It is considered as one of the greatest works on ethics and morality and it is known for its universality and secular nature. The text has been dated variously from 300 BCE to 5th century CE. The traditional accounts describe it as the last work of the third Sangam, but linguistic analysis suggests a later date of 450 to 500 CE and that it was composed after the Sangam period. It states that the darkness of ignorance will vanish and true happiness will result for those who have realized the taintless Truth, being freed of delusion. The same concept can be related to the leadership quality. If a leader is based on the quality of consciousness, then he is will be a person who is very transparent and having knowledge on what is truth. This impacts him in taking right decisions without any dilemma. The real happiness and success of a great leader is on understanding the truth that is to differentiate the favorable and unfavorable situations that exist in an organization. Only if there is consciousness in a leader, he or she can able to assess the situation and can take the most suitable decisions for any situations. This paper also discusses some other sacred verses from ‘Thirukural’ which emphasis the importance of attainment of conciseness among leaders
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 11: Research Papers: Philosophies of Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 3: Yunxiang Zhu “Teaching Consciousness-based Education to Chinese Students at a Distance "
Paper Abstract:
Maharishi International University (MIU) is the pioneer institution of Consciousness-Based Education (CBE). Science and Technology of Consciousness (STC) course is always taught as the first course. How to disseminate the knowledge of Consciousness to students of different culture backgrounds becomes more challenging in 2020 when onsite teaching is not possible due to pandemic. This paper identified a key element to successfully teach STC course to Chinese students through online delivery. This successful approach is also applicable to any students of any culture in any country.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 11: Research Papers: Philosophies of Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 2: Richa Kathuria “Spiritual Intelligence as in Nichiren Buddhism "
Paper Abstract:
Spiritual intelligence (SI) is gaining popularity as a concept with academicians as well as general public since its inception. In view of sufferings of the world from many problems like stress, anxiety and depression, SI presents a promising solution. It’s often confused with spirituality. We have tried to highlight the difference between the two by separately defining both the terms. Many attempts have been made to conceptualize SI by researchers all over the world. For Nichiren Buddhism there are limited efforts in the literature for defining SI. Hence this study is an endeavor to fill this gap. This is an exploratory study based on qualitative research methods. Data source used is ‘Gosho’. Content analysis (inductive) is used for data analysis. Total seven themes emerged out for SI which suggests that we can achieve “absolute happiness”. They are presented as a model proposed in this study. Paper ends with new research avenues for future research directions for SI
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 11: Research Papers: Philosophies of Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 1: Yick Oi Janet Ho “Dao and Management: A Consciousness-Based Understanding"
Paper Abstract:
In this presentation, we report on our ongoing qualitative analysis to identify the key concepts of a theory of management implicit in the 81 chapters of Dao De Jing. Laozi's classic Dao De Jing. Laozi expounds that one can access the hidden power of Dao, Natural Law, through a state of consciousness which is nonactive. The Way or Dao is a transcendental phenomenon, yet it is the source of exceptional effectiveness.
A perspective for appreciating the Laozi’s Dao way of management is the management thought of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Maharishi explained that action from wakeful inner silence utilizes the organizing power of Natural Law to hit the target for holistic success and least resistance. We conclude by observing similarities between Dao management and emerging consciousness-based theories in contemporary management thought.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 5: Research Papers: Workplace issues in Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 8: Aleh Perzashkevich “Ananda in Rigveda: What is behind the evident?"
Paper Abstract:
For a great number of Indian realities the Rigveda is their beginning. In addition, such an essential concept of traditional Indian thinking as Ananda (playing a special role at various schools of Vedanta within the construction of sat-cit-Ananda – the triune description of Brahman) makes, in our opinion, no exception. Therefore, the present paper is about our consideration on Ananda in Rigveda. Usage of the root nand- words in Rigveda has never been a distinctive attribute of any one RSi family, but it has been common enough. The review of possible meanings of the root -nand words, and, first, Ananda, has been done with the author analysis of the original Rigvedic fragments. For this purpose, the author uses not only the very original text of the monument, but also comments of the Indian authorities – Venkata and Sayana – plus the academic translations of K.Geldner (into German), S.S. Prakash and S.Vidyalankar (into English) and T.Ya. Yelizarekova (into Russian). The main conclusion is that the Rigvedic Ananda was an essential element of material component of sacrifice (i.e. soma), namely a special condition generated with soma, which establish the required connection between gods and priests during the sacrifice action.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 5: Research Papers: Workplace issues in Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 6: PNVV Satyanarayana “Consciousness Based Leadership and Management: A Pathway To Build A Blissful World"
Paper Abstract:
There is a need for a new kind of leadership, just like different leaderships such as autocratic, democratic and free rein emerged out of different past situations, to deal with the current challenges like lacking trust among consumers and workers due to fraud, cultural differences, etc. In order to deal everything in a more responsible and more mature manner, the leader must have to develop a proper or good consciousness. Through the present paper the authors aimed at establishing association between conscious individual (CI) and consciousness based leadership and management (CBLM); and to assess empirically the performance of CBLM. For the purpose of study a proposed model of CBLM with primary source of data using structured questionnaire with five point scale was used. A strong positive degree of correlation between CI and CBLM was found in two select categories of respondents. It was further found that the two select categories of respondents are almost equally motivated and able to perform the CBLM practices. However, it was concluded that results were high in the category of academicians as compared to the non-academicians category.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 5: Research Papers: Workplace issues in Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 4: Zeljka Ciganovic “The Potential of Corporate Yoga in Enhancement of Emotion Regulation in IT Workforce in the New Normal: A Brief Narrative Review "
Paper Abstract:
COVID-19 pandemic working style, due to isolation, social distancing and work-life imbalance, is
endangering employee health and wellbeing. IT professionals are mostly more introverted and less trained
to positively respond to aggressive communications from their team members and clients. Their
emotional response affects their job satisfaction either positively or negatively. In all these circumstances,
emotion regulation skills are of the highest importance. A brief narrative review of the existing body of
literature brings to light the potential of organizing corporate yoga programs as effective interventions for
enhancing emotion regulation in IT professionals in the new normal. Evidence suggests that corporate
yoga programs can enhance emotion regulation, emotional well-being and resilience to stress in the
workplace, reduce perceived stress, anxiety and depression, improve self-care and reduce burnout, as well
as improve health and wellbeing. Corporate yoga, also called workplace or worksite yoga, represents
minimum expenditure to the company while providing a range of overall health and wellbeing benefits to
employees, enhancing emotion regulation, followed by an increase in job satisfaction and work-related
productivity. IT companies should provide regular yoga sessions, either in virtual, offline or hybrid mode,
as an essential part of their corporate health and wellbeing programs in the new normal.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 5: Research Papers: Workplace issues in Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 2: Amelia Indrajaya “The Importance of Spiritual Leadership and Spirit at Work as Intangible Resource Capabilities in the Service Industry: A Resource Based View Framework "
Paper Abstract:
Despite the increasing interest in the research of Spirit at Work (SW), empirical research on the SW from a resource based view (RBV) framework is still lacking. This study takes an empirical examination with 530 data taken from a leading telco service company in Indonesia on the impact of organizational intangible resource (in the form of integrated spiritual leadership (SL) variables: Vision, hope/faith, altruistic love, meaning/calling and membership) toward SW, showing that SL is organized into employees experiencing SW. Further, SW is tested toward Job Satisfaction (JS) and Organizational Commitment (OC) as competitive advantages, where both JS and OC are valuable and directly influence service excellence. Findings show that all work related SL variables are significant toward SW, while one variable of spiritual leadership, namely Altruistic Love, is not significant toward SW. The SW is also significantly and positively impacting JS and OC. SL and SW conforms to valuable, rare, inimitable resource and organized VRIO framework which leads to sustainable competitive advantage.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 2: Research Papers: Organization Culture approaches to Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 7: Julia Storberg-Walker “Learning From Relational Ontologies through Head and Heart: An Exploratory Collaborative Autoethnography "
Paper Abstract:
This paper presents the findings from an exploratory collaborative auto-ethnography (CAE) project undertaken by four co-researchers: three doctoral students and one doctoral faculty member. The purpose of the explorative CAE was to begin to understand the deeper, potentially transformative changes that might occur through learning about and enacting relational ontologies (Thayer-Bacon, 2017). The foundational premise or intuition supporting this study is that a union of learning and enacting through relations offers the potential for transformative change. We call the union of learning and enacting learning with/about/from to signify the holistic, integral nature of the experience.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 2: Research Papers: Organization Culture approaches to Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 6: Mohan Gurubatham “Wisdom towards Unity and Fine Grain Discrimination in Developing Managerial Talent in the 21st Century "
Paper Abstract:
This paper traces the need for the development of higher order thinking with a cognitive model developed by the author. It examines the theoretical and empirical underpinnings for cognitive development in management for effective thinking. The endpoints of human cognitive development are discussed towards the development of wisdom in unity consciousness to resolve conflicts that are born of diversity and that require pragmatic action. Globalization today necessitates integrative thinking. The technique of Transcendental Meditation is proposed as being effective in the development of consciousness. The development of consciousness is first experienced as transcendental consciousness to unfold the full cognitive potential of the individual towards unity consciousness through Transcendental Meditation is empirically validated and discussed for the resolution of conflicts by transcending paradigms and fulfilling managerial goals of stakeholder management in the 21st century of accelerating change drivers.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 2: Research Papers: Organization Culture approaches to Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 5: Gry Espedal “Creating Organizational Spaces of Hope through Values Conscious Practices "
Paper Abstract:
This study aims at exploring how organizations can be targets of hope and hope practices, especially in times of crisis. More specifically, we ask: how do managers create spaces of hope, and what are the underlying mechanisms facilitating these processes and practices of hope in organizations? Based on an investigation of essays written by managers during the Covid-19 pandemic and drawing on analyses from a focus group interview with the managers, this article shows how creating organizational spaces for hope is part of a dynamic and relational process. The managers are working on recognizing and affirming the organizational members’ situation, helping them envision hope through a process of noticing the despair, searching for meaning, creating actions of hope to establish a horizon of possibilities. These processes of hope are facilitated through group reflection in safe spaces as well as times for slow-thinking, enabling value-conscious practices in organizations.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 2: Research Papers: Organization Culture approaches to Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 4: Dr. R. Ray Gehani “Revisiting Ram’s Internal Journey with Consciousness: Leadership for Post Corona Times "
Paper Abstract:
As leaders and followers were quarantined and socially isolated at work and in our personal lives with COVID, we were forced to go inward, and explore our interior realities that Teresa of Avila (a 16th Century Spanish Carmelite nun) referred as “The Interior Castle.” Swiss psychologist Carl Jung studied the relationship of the individuals with their own depths with depth psychologies. This perspective is more often than not missing in various contemporary leadership research studies and practices. In this research study, we explore the significance of the inner journey of the legendary leader Ram known for his external conquests against oppressive and materially lustful leader Ravan and his equally oppressive allies and followers. We examine leadership in the emerging context of the ‘New Normal’ from the point of view of Wilber’s (1996) evolution of consciousness, from the cruder physical, to subtler consciousness, and the super-conscious spirit, and Mahatma Gandhi’s integral and inclusive leadership. Based on the classic Valmiki’s (c.700 BCE) Ramayana, we compare and contrast Ram’s exterior leadership journey and interior leadership journey, and postulate a new model of Ram as a Karam-yogi leader. This will help bridge some of the gap in contemporary leadership research and studies. Limitations and future implications for research and managerial practices are presented.
miu.edu/cba/consciousness-conference
Session 2: Research Papers: Organization Culture approaches to Oneness and Flourishing
Speaker 3: Vikram Gulati “Ambidextrous Behavior: Consciousness based Development "
Paper Abstract:
Business environment is rapidly changing in an unpredictable and complex manner. To succeed, business leaders need to be creative and disciplined, innovative and process oriented, and answer to the demands of profit, people and planet all at the same time. In other words they need to be ambidextrous. With limited resources, these conflicting goals create paradoxical tensions and success of a leader is based on the capability to thrive in them. The paper proposes an answer to the question; why are some leaders more ambidextrous than others? and what can facilitate this preferred behavior? A literature review of ambidexterity and paradoxical leadership behavior reveals the antecedents, consequences and traits of ambidextrous behavior but does not shed light on the ‘Why’. Sustainability leadership is just as paradoxical as ambidextrous behavior. Literature review of sustainability leadership, practices of connectedness by sustainability leaders and related neuroscience literature reveals development of consciousness along with its unique neurological signature as the differentiating factor. Transcendental MeditationTM (TM) as a technique for development of consciousness is discussed. This paper builds on the theory that development of consciousness is the central principle for development of leadership and management


