Creative Intelligence: 16 Principles To Live By…
“Nowhere can a man withdraw to a more untroubled quietude than in his own soul. Grant yourself this withdrawal continually, and refresh yourself.” Marcus Aurelius
Creative Intelligence: 16 Principles To Live By...
♥Order is present everywhere
♥Life is found in layers
♥Outer depends on inner
♥Seek the highest first
♥Rest and activity are the steps of progress
Last week (3/25), on Oprah Winfrey‘s Next Chapter documentary series, she showcased America’s Most Unusual Town; a Transcendental Meditation enclave organized by the Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment in Fairfield, Iowa. In a relatively small community of 9,400 residents, many gather in the evening and throughout the day to meditate and elevate the energy fields around and beyond them. If you were conscious of the meditation revolution of the last century, you’d remember that the Transcendental Meditation movement, known fondly as TM, was the brain child of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Former Beatles member, George Harrison, was a devotee. In my own spiritual journey, and as a way to understand the underpinnings of my Christian background and faith, I tried TM in the early 1980s and then found my way to Siddha Yoga and Ammachi.
“Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.” Gautama Buddha
Creative Intelligence: 16 Principles To Live By...
♥Enjoy greater efficiency and accomplish more
♥Every action has a reaction
♥Purification leads to progress
♥The field of all possibilities is the source of all solutions
♥Thought leads to action, action leads to achievement
♥And achievement leads to fulfillment
Oprah’s visit to Fairfield included a stop at the 80-acre compound in Maharishi Vedic City, where 800 men/pandits from India live, study and meditate for eight hours for the sake of world peace. A Pandit is a scholar/teacher with a mastery in the Sanskrit language and Vedic scriptures. Oprah also paid a visit to a Fairfield school where the practice of meditating twice daily, using Transcendental Meditation (TM) methods, is a mandatory part of the curriculum. It was a positive, uplifting show and I came away with an appreciation for the work the community was doing. As the show was wrapping up, the ♥16 principles of the Science of Creative Intelligence were mentioned and then shared on video. I’ve shared them throughout this post because, in their simplicity, they offer a penetrating wisdom that is rich in meaning. More below. 😉
“The important thing is this: to be able, at any moment, to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.” Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Creative Intelligence: 16 Principles To Live By...
Creative Intelligence: 16 Principles To Live By... Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
♥Knowledge is gained from inside and outside
♥Knowledge is structured in consciousness
♥Harmony exists in diversity
♥Whole is contained in every part
♥The whole is greater than the sum of the parts
While there are some people who remain uncomfortable with the idea of yoga and meditation as a way of life, if we keep an open mind we’d come to understand that the teachings are universal and do not negate our personal beliefs or faith. One thing that stood out for me was the clarity and serenity I observed in the children at the school. One young lady said that meditating helped her mental focus and to be more herself. Isn’t that what we’d all want for ourselves? What are your thoughts? Have you read anything about Transcendental Meditation (TM)? Are you familiar with the teachings of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi? What about other meditation paths/ practices? How do you relax? Do share! Thank you. 😉
Read more: Oprah’s Next Chapter: America’s Most Unusual Town
*Please bear with me as I continue to catch up on your blogs and commenting… Thank you all for your patience! 🙂
Positive Motivation Tip: The principles we live by inform our decisions and outcomes. Choose wisely.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All photos Children meditating, Meditation chambers, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, via Wikipedia and/or Meditation room by holisticgeek, via Flickr
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
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I cannot imagine life without my daily yoga practice! The meditation is harder, but getting there, I think 🙂
TY Madhu! It’s been a lifesaver for me and something I would recommend to everyone… 🙂
All 16 principles are important ones to remember…but I love “outer depends on inner” the best.
Thank you, Eliz. As usual, you feed our spirits and keep us thinking. 🙂
They are terrific principles… even in their simplicity. I was grateful that Oprah shared them from the show. TY! 🙂
Thanks, Elizabeth.
TY too! 🙂
oh no….I’m just leaving for work (well, I’m even a bit late!) and can’t linger with these ideas right now…I’ll be back later to spend quiet time pondering them…there are lots and lots of helpful insights in this post..thanks!
TY and I do hope you found some that resonated with you… Oprah loved “Life is found in layers.” I love them all but “Seek the Highest First” is a keeper. 🙂
You are right, meditation is actually a part of many (or most) religions, although perhaps different words are used to describe it. I take long walk/runs each day with my dogs through the woods and fields and that is form of meditation for me. And when things are really hectic or I am confused about decisions, I remember the Bible verse, “Be still and know that I am God.”
True… some call it by other names and we practice it in so many ways too… TY! 🙂
Meditation is one of those things I need to start doing. I wonder if daydreaming is related to meditation? Just a thought. miriam
Sorta! But is not active… You can start anytime and even siting quietly in your office for 5-10 minutes is a form of meditation. TY! 🙂
I’ll be keeping this post in a safe place. Wonderful words and reminders!
Well, TY Shelly and I hope it speak to your spirit often. TY! 🙂
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi – helped the Beatles, helped me .. Oh, Help – the name of one of my favorite Beatles songs! must be something to the Help-ing thing- and TM, too.. nice post.
. TY! 🙂 I started in TM and then explored other forms of meditation. I’m glad it helped you too. I always loved George Harrison of the Beatles and was impressed when he adopted a meditation lifestyle. 🙂
This post makes me feel guilty for my long absence from yoga. Am currently feeling shamed for not having attending a class in the past two years. Sighs.
Oh don’t be shamed… You can always go back and take a class or start a series of movements… It’s never too late. TY! 🙂
This literally stopped me: “The important thing is this: to be able, at any moment, to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.” Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
How often do we hold on to negative beliefs or old beliefs that would be better off left behind so we could actually change and grow?
Those Yogis know what they are talking about. Thank you, as always, for the apropos and uplifting message!
Yep, the yogis and spiritual teachers were acutely aware of the human condition and offered sensible solutions to help us grow and flourish. TY! 🙂
I feel more peaceful already. Breath in, breath out. sigh.
Om Shanti, shanti, shanti! TY! 🙂
Thought-provoking post my friend. Lovely. Spiritual.
TY, TY! Margie. The show was inspiring….
Meditation is a key to the wisdom within. 😀
It sure is…. and I’m still working my way through the alphabet on comments… TY! 🙂
This makes me want to do it! I have always thought it would be a great thing. I just need to get off my rear end and go somewhere to learn more. Thanks for the inspiration, my friend! Lovely post as usual!
Go for it and come back and share. I think you’d find it beneficial. TY! 🙂
In the past I practiced meditation daily and yoga several times a week. Recently I slacked off of both due to my schedule. I can tell a difference. I’m definitely more relaxed when I do meditation and yoga. I need to get back to my regular routine for both. I enjoyed this post as usual.
TY Wyletter! I hear you and need to take some yoga classes again. I changed my schedule and added other routines. 🙂
I do understand the benefits of meditation and find the principles you’ve outlined as indeed supportive to my Christian faith, not pulling me in opposite directions. I have found myself criticized quite a bit for this…and I’ve definitely heard Oprah speak about the critical and condemning mail she has received through the years because of her openness. I appreciate what you share, Elizabeth. It’s nice to have your thoughts support what I find valuable. This was a beautiful post…I wish I’d seen the Oprah episode! Debra
TY! Like you, I am aware of how some feel about it and have chosen to move on. We just can’t satisfy everyone. 🙂
I need my ‘me’ time. a time where I can just be with my thoughts and also to be able to release them without judging…
Same here… and the Europeans shed some light on it . They have it right with the siesta and vacation lengths. TY! 😉
I really enjoyed this post and will add the principles to my fridge door. We need to be reminded daily that we can make a different choice and choose peace of mind. Thanks!
B
TY! and I have kept my copy of it too… I love its as the tips are succinct. 🙂
I like the notion of being willing to sacrifice what you are for what you can become. The more I thought about that, the more powerful it became as a guide for living one’s life. A very difficult concept to fully embrace, but one worth serious consideration none-the-less.
TY Cecelia! I agree with your observations. I believe we should all be more open to differences… 🙂
I have been doing so wonderfully well in following my writing goals and my personal commitments to causes really dear to my heart since I started lying very flat and very still and very quiet for about 15-20 min. after first awakening in the mornings. Meditation is truly a necessary practice if we are to live purpose-filled lives. Bless you for this wonderfully inspiring and instructional post.
TY Granbee! Your points are excellent and I find that there is a marked difference in my writings when I meditate before writing and when I don’t. 🙂
Bless your heart too! 🙂
It’s amazing how meditation can improve your well being. There are different types of meditation, as I’ve learned. Mine is finding enjoyable, relaxing activities that allow me to get lost in it and become oblivious to everything else. As my health improves, I will be trying yoga and tai chi (tai chi – which I’ve been told has been tied to long life in China).
Thanks for the tips 🙂 and I totally agree with meditation being an important part of our well-being.
Creativity is a beautiful source of positive energy. Meditation and the quieting of our thoughts can be the genesis for our imagination to grow. Wonderful post Elizabeth.
nice pic of the zendo, perfections to reveal ‘imperfections’, or better said, issues around letting go. Since, I’ve ‘rebelled’ against all those neat lines orderliness. I’d like to set a spoon a bit crooked on the Queen’s table, except someone other than me might get in trouble. 🙂
I’ve been meditating and practicing creative visualization, and some form of yoga on and off for about 30 years. I can remember my first efforts at meditating, how difficult it was to still my mind and focus on the candle. I can tell you this: I always feel much better, more at ease, and at peace when I’m meditating regularly.
That student is right. I wish we had some form of meditation in schools, we need something, that’s for sure!
Yoga and meditations are way of life at least for me. I am glad that Maharishi showed me a great way of life. Jai Guru Dev.
Thanks for your comment Sabin. I’ve been a practitioner for many years too… 🙂
I enjoyed reading this article. I have been practicing some of the meditation techniques of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the past and they served me wonderfully. Meditation is indeed one of the best ways of spiritual development. Jai Guru Dev.
Thank you for your feedback. I agree that meditation is an important part of developing a spiritual practice. It’s been a valuable part of my life.