TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION IN THE YOUTH AUTHORITY

• NCJ Number: 46696
• Author(s): C J KIMBLE
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: Institute for Social Rehabilitation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM YOUTH AUTHORITY QUARTERLY, V 28, N 1 (SPRING 1975)

Annotation

A MODEL PROGRAM FOR WARDS OF THE KARL HOLTON SCHOOL, UNDERTAKEN BY THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY, COMBINES TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION (TM) WITH ITS THEORETICAL ASPECT, THE SCIENCE OF CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE (SCI).

Abstract

TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION REQUIRES NO PARTICULAR RELIGIOUS OR PHILOSOPHICAL ORIENTATION AND IS PRACTICED BY SITTING COMFORTABLY WITH EYES CLOSED FOR TWO DAILY 15-MINUTE TO 20-MINUTE MEDITATION PERIODS. RESEARCH INTO THE EFFECTS OF TM HAVE INDICATED THAT IT IS CAPABALE OF PRODUCING ALTERED BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STATES AS WELL AS APPARENTLY CALMER AND MORE ORDERED MENTAL STATES. WARDS TAKING TM HAVE RESPONDED FAVORABLY. IN REHABILITATIVE SETTINGS TM IS TAUGHT THROUGH CONTACT WITH THE INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL REHABILITATION OF MAHARISHI INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY WHICH OFFERS A VARIETY OF PROGRAM PACKAGES. AT THE KARL HOLTON SCHOOL, TM AND SCI (A SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF INTELLIGENCE AND THE GROWTH OF HUMAN POTENTIAL) ARE OFFERED IN RECURRING 6-MONTH PROGRAMS. THE FIRST TWO LESSONS EXPLAIN THE MECHANICS OF THE MEDITATION TECHNIQUE. FOLLOWING A PERSONAL INTERVIEW, WARDS RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL FOUR DAYS OF INSTRUCTION (1 TO 1.5 HOURS PER DAY). WARDS THEN MEET WEEKLY WITH THEIR TEACHER FOR THE FIRST MONTH, AND THEN ONCE A MONTH FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 6-MONTH PROGRAM. A NUMBER OF BEHAVIORAL STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT TM SUBJECTS SHOW IMPROVED SELF-CONCEPT, GREATER LEVELS OF SELF-ACTUALIZATION, GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF AGGRESSION, AND LOWER LEVELS OF DEPRESSION AND NEUROTICISM THAN NONMEDITATORS. TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION ALSO APPEARS TO BE AN EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR ELIMINATING DRUG ABUSE. IN ADDITION, TM COMPLEMENTS OTHER TREATMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS OR BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR WARDS INTERESTED IN TEACHING TM AND SCI TECHNIQUES IS AVAILABLE. EFFORTS TO INVOLVE KARL HOLTON STAFF MEMBERS IN TM HAVE NOT YET BEEN ENTIRELY SUCCESSFUL. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT AS THE REHABILITATIVE VALUE OF TM IS PROVEN, THE USE OF TM BY THE YOUTH AUTHORITY SHOULD BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD.