Maharishi University of Management (MUM) in Fairfield, Iowa is no ordinary university.
The university offers a Master’s degree in Sustainable Business and Bachelor’s in Sustainable Living, among plenty of other subjects, and it is in the process of creating a Sustainable Living Center, which in itself is not typical. Additionally, however, MUM is based around Consciousness-Based Education and the practice of Transcendental Meditation.
“It’s for people looking to experience—to live—the knowledge they’re gaining.”
Definitely a step outside of the norm.
If you’re not familiar with Transcendental Meditation (TM), here’s a little info that was sent to me in an email about MUM.
The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple, natural, effortless process practiced 15-20 minutes twice daily while sitting comfortably with eyes closed.
The TM technique is not a religion or philosophy, nor does it require any change of lifestyle. The Transcendental Meditation technique is taught through a seven-step course of instruction by a trained TM teacher. The course is followed by weekly, and then monthly, checking sessions (averaging 20-30 minutes) to ensure correct practice of the technique. The course also includes an optional, lifetime follow-up of checking and knowledge to ensure maximum benefit.
I’ve heard of some businesses incorporating meditation into the daily work routine, but never heard of a university that is focused around it. Quite interesting.
MUM offers a completely organic, vegetarian menu. Of course, there are numerous reasons why organic, vegetarian food is good for the environment and for your health, but there are also plenty of other mental and spiritual reasons to off clean, vegetarian food. As a quote by Benjamin Franklin on MUM’s website states, “My refusing to eat flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chided for my singularity, but, with this lighter repast, I made the greater progress, for greater clearness of head and quicker comprehension.”
MUM has numerous sustainability initiatives, including a Climate Action Plan, a Vermicomposting project, an opportunity to run a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, and much more.
I have to say that I loved the university I went to, New College of Florida, but if I had known about MUM while finishing high school, I may have been tempted to go there. This looks like an excellent school and one that gives you much more than a piece of paper and a bit of knowledge at the end of your four years there.
If you are interested in checking out MUM, it’s next Visitor’s Weekend is October 8-11, but it hosts these regularly if you can’t make it there so soon.
A big thank you to Adrien Daller of David Lynch Foundation Television, which has produced a new website, Peacetown, USA, and has a handful of good quotes on MUM from students, alumni and professors on that website.