http://www.mum.edu/TheReview 22Mar2006
6. University Vice-President Visits World Capital of Peace in India
University Executive Vice-President Craig Pearson has been in India
since
mid-January at the World Capital of Peace located in the Brahmasthan
(geographical center) of that country.
Dr. Pearson is there representing Maharishi University of
Management,
along
with Dr. Ashley Deans, who is representing Maharishi School. Also in
residence are leaders of Maharishi's national organizations
representing a
number of other countries around the world, as well as a number of
former
Maharishi University of Management students.
Dr. Pearson, Dr. Deans, and the others have been participating in the
Parliaments of World Peace, which are focusing on 12 major areas of
life,
three days on each area.
The Campus
The World Capital of Peace is located in a remote area about three
hours by
bus from Jabalpur.
The campus is large enough to accommodate 3,000 Vedic Scholars. The
goal is
to purchase additional land in the region and continue construction
until
the campus can accommodate 16,000 Vedic Scholars, as well as
ambassadors
from every nation.
Many buildings have been built since 1999 when Maharishi first began
establishing a presence in the Brahmasthan. They are single-story
buildings
designed according to principles of Maharishi Vedic architecture.
The buildings are arranged in clusters, consisting of residential
buildings,
a hall for the practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-
Sidhi®
programs, and other facilities. There are many such clusters, and
the
campus
is divided into five large compounds.
Former Students in India
Among those currently in India are 30 members of the Purusha(SM)
program
from the United States, including former students Byron and Aubrey
Deans,
Justin Cutter, Jon Czinder, Emile Stansberry, Damian Lodge, and
Martin
Davy.
Also in the group at the Capital are current students Soren Pearson
and
Aaron Hirshberg.
Dr. Pearson said that the Parliaments have entailed fascinating
presentations of knowledge. Maharishi inaugurates each Parliament
with
an
address. Then the area is examined in the light of each of the other
areas.
He said that the interconnectedness of the areas has been
emphasized,
such
as how agriculture contributes to architecture, or the relation
between
agriculture and religion and culture.
"The structure for these presentations that Maharishi has set up
stimulates
new insights and new connections," Dr. Pearson said in an e-mail
message
addressed to the community. "The result has been a brilliant,
multi-faceted
display of knowledge, all forming one grand wholeness, every
presentation
reinforcing the reality that everything is Brahm, that all fields of
life
are nothing other than wholeness moving within itself, and that we
are
That."
Large Groups of Vedic Scholars
Maharishi has said that groups of Vedic Scholars, or Pandits, will
create
peace in the world. Dr. Pearson noted that during the several years
at
the
end of the 1980s and early 1990s when 7,000 Vedic Scholars came
together at
Maharishi Nagar, the Berlin Wall fell, nations throughout Eastern
Europe
gained their freedom, the Soviet Union collapsed, and the world's
largest
standing army disbanded. And since then the world's conflicts and
wars
have
been in freefall.
Today conflict and war are at the lowest level in many decades and
peace is
breaking out all over the world. The Iraq war, for all the
headlines,
is an
anomaly.
The goal now is to have 16,000 Vedic Scholars at the Capital,
additional
groups of 8,000 around India, and also groups elsewhere in the world.
"It's difficult to conceive of the powerful effect such large groups
will
have," Dr. Pearson said. "In the training and bringing together of
these
Pandits lies the foundation of permanent peace for our world family."
*********************
1. Over $3 Million Raised for New Student Center
A very substantial donation by Vincent and Maggie Argiro and other
recent
generous gifts and pledges by University Trustees and supporters has
brought
the total raised for the new Student Center to $3.2 million -- over
half of
the $5.8 million goal.
The naming of the building is offered as a shared opportunity for
the
first
two donors who contribute $1 million. Half of this opportunity is
still
available and a gift of $1 million will entitle the donor to share
this
honor with University Trustee Vincent Argiro and his wife, Maggie.
Based on this success, the fundraising campaign has now been
broadened
to
include all alumni and friends of the University. Everyone will now
have the
opportunity to be part of this latest and most ambitious step in
reconstructing the campus according to principles of Maharishi
Vedic(SM)
Architecture.
"We want to continue the momentum of building -- to do this we need
everyone's support now," said Nick Rosania, co-director of the
Development
Office.
A matching offer is being presented by a generous member of the
Board
of
Trustees. He will contribute $500 for each of the first 300
donations
in
amounts of $1,000-2,500.
"We are hopeful this will bring in a half million dollars or more,"
said
Sandra Rosania, co-director of the Development Office.
Construction is proceeding quickly, and framing of the garden-level
walls
has been completed. The building will have three stories. Completion
is
anticipated for the spring of 2007.
A web cam is now available so that people around the world can see a
live
image of the construction. See <http://www.mum.edu/studentcenter>.
Also available on the website are renderings of the interior and
exterior,
photos of the construction, and a complete description of what will
be
housed in the Student Center.
This 50,000-square-foot building will be the hub of the campus and
the
most
prominent structure, offering facilities for dining, meetings, and
social
events. Students will have many of the services they need in one
location.
The building will include a two-story, atrium-style lobby with
skylights, a
300-seat auditorium, a café and food court, two dining halls,
kitchen,
bookstore, student lounge, reception room, offices for Student
Government
and the student deans, and recreational space.
The Student Center will be the fourth building on central campus
constructed
according to principles of Maharishi Vedic architecture. This system
of
architecture is aligned with the orderly functioning of Nature and
contributes to the health, happiness, mental clarity, and success of
the
occupants.
To contribute to the Student Center, please call the Development
Office
at
(641) 472-1180. Or send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or you can
make
a
contribution via the Student Center website at
<http://www.mum.edu/studentcenter>.
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