Yoga Gives Back: How did you get involved with the practice of Transcendental Meditation?
David Lynch: Sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s I heard a phrase, “True happiness is not out there—true happiness lies within.” This phrase had a ring of truth to it for me. But it is a frustrating phrase because it does not tell you where the “within” is, nor does it tell you how to get there. One day when I least expected it the penny dropped, and this idea of meditation, which previously I had zero interest in, suddenly got me thinking that it might be a way to go within. I started looking into many different forms of meditation and in 1973 I found what felt super correct for me—Transcendental Meditation as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. I started Transcendental Meditation on July 1, 1973 and have been meditating twice a day ever sense.
YGB: Do you believe that the practice of Transcendental Meditation has a social responsibility to bring positive change to our world, or should it?
David Lynch: I believe that the practice of Transcendental Meditation brings extremely positive change to any individual who practices it on a regular basis. And in that way, when more and more individuals are growing in positivity, society gets more positive. Maharishi had two goals. First, enlightenment for the individual, and second: peace on earth. He brought out Transcendental Meditation to realize both those goals and I believe regardless of what we see on TV, both those goals are well on their way to fruition for people and society as a whole.
YGB: How does the David Lynch Foundation’s charitable work resonate with the mission of Yoga Gives Back, which is “to mobilize the global yoga community to empower women and children in India to build sustainable livelihood”?
David Lynch: Genuine, traditional yoga, as presented by Yoga Gives Back, along with Transcendental Meditation, are authentic techniques to allow women and children in India to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way of building a sustainable livelihood. They can only do this by unlocking the unlimited energy, happiness, peace, love and power that lies within every human being. This is the only way to empower human beings and create peace in the world.
YGB: How do you view being awarded the 2016 Namaste Award by Yoga Gives Back?
David Lynch: I am deeply honored to accept the 2016 Namaste Award from Yoga Gives Back—and I accept it on behalf of the thousands of teachers of Transcendental Meditation in India, the United States and all over the world who are working with great energy, wisdom and devotion in order create a more peaceful, progressive, and healthier world. They are working with great love to make real the ancient Vedic truth: “The world is my family.” And I know that is the goal of Yoga Gives Back.
Yoga Gives Back will honor David Lynch with the 2016 Namaste Award at their September 25 Gala in Malibu–click here for more information.
Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.