David Lynch To Host Second Annual National Student Weekend on Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity

Filmmaker to be Joined by Quantum Physicist
John Hagelin and Singer/Songwriter Donovan
Maharishi University of Management
Fairfield, Iowa, May 25-27, 2007
Lynchweekend.org

Filmmaker David Lynch (Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, INLAND EMPIRE), renowned quantum physicist John Hagelin (What the bleep do we know?!, The Secret), and legendary singer/songwriter Donovan Leitch (Hurdy Gurdy Man, Sunshine Superman, Mellow Yellow) will lead an extraordinary national student weekend entitled, "Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity" at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, over Memorial Day Weekend, from May 25 to 27.

Students from throughout the United States and around the world are invited to attend.

During the weekend, Mr. Lynch will hold special workshops on filmmaking and the creative process; Dr. Hagelin will present recent discoveries in modern physics and brain neuroscience, which reveal deep insights into the origin of the universe-and the nature of human consciousness; and Donovan will perform his classic hit songs from the 60s. All three will explore the role of meditation in developing consciousness and creativity, and promoting peace.

To register for the conference, see www.lynchweekend.org.

Filmmaker David Lynch : Songwriter Donovan

Celebrated Filmmaker David Lynch,
Legendary Singer/Songwriter Donovan
Come Together for Three Free Public Events
Lincoln Center. New York City, January 12, 8 PM
Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., January 14, 2 PM
Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, January 21, 7 PM

Filmmaker David Lynch is one of the world's greatest auteurs. Singer/songwriter Donovan Leitch shaped an entire generation with his own original blend of folk/flower/rock music in the 1960s.

Now these two acclaimed, yet highly reclusive artists are coming together for a rare free public event at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on Friday, January 12, 8 p.m.

Donovan will perform his greatest hits spanning the past 40 years (Mellow Yellow, Sunshine Superman, Hurdy Gurdy Man, Season of the Witch).

Lynch will speak and answer questions about his new book, Catching the Big Fish (Tarcher/Penguin), and his new film, INLAND EMPIRE.

Seating is limited. Tickets are available through
Lincoln Center http://ny.david-donovan.org
Kennedy Center http://dc.david-donovan.org
Kodak Theatre http://la.david-donovan.org

Lynch and Donovan have come together out of a shared, decades-long interest in Transcendental Meditation to raise awareness and support for in-school meditation programs to help at-risk youth.

"Donovan inspired me and millions of others of my generation to meditate and find real happiness in the ocean of creativity and intelligence that lies within everyone," Lynch said. "The David Lynch Foundation is honored to have Donovan's support for our efforts to bring stress-reducing meditation to students in the U.S. and around the world."

The Lynch Foundation has already provided millions of dollars in scholarships for thousands of students nationwide to learn the Transcendental Meditation program.

For more information, see www.davidlynchfoundation.org.

David Lynch to Announce Plan to End School Violence: Teach One Million Students Transcendental Meditate

Filmmaker says meditating students will transform schools from
breeding grounds of stress and violence to centers of creativity and peace
Filmmaker David Lynch will announce during a global webcast (www.DavidLynchFoundation.org/conference) on Tuesday, May 1, at 12 noon (EDT), the David Lynch Foundation’s new plan to end school violence: Teach one million students around the world to meditate to transform schools from breeding grounds of stress and violence into centers of creativity and peace.

The David Lynch Foundation has already provided nearly $5 million to support in-school Transcendental Meditation programs for thousands of students in public and private schools in the United States and around the world to learn to meditate. (See www.StressFreeSchools.org.)

The National Institutes of Health has granted more than $24 million to study the benefits of the Transcendental Meditation technique for reducing high levels of stress and anxiety, improving brain functioning, and promoting cardiovascular health. Other published research shows the technique reduces depression, drug and alcohol abuse, and hypertension—while improving academic performance, creativity, intelligence, and ADD and other learning disorders.

Lynch will be joined by John Hagelin, Ph.D., renowned quantum physicist and president of the David Lynch Foundation, and singer/songwriter Donovan Leitch (Hurdy Gurdy Man, Sunshine Superman, Mellow Yellow), who heads up the musical wing of the Foundation.

Lynch, Hagelin, and Donovan will explore the anti-violence plan in detail during a national student weekend entitled, “Exploring the Frontiers of Brain, Consciousness, and Creativity” at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, over Memorial Day Weekend, from May 25 to 27. (See www.LynchWeekend.org.) Students from throughout the United States are invited to attend.

David Lynch and Donovan Bring Stress-Meditation to America’s Stressed-Out Youth

In New York for a Benefit Talk and Concert
at Lincoln Center

Major Health Study at American University in D.C.
with 250 Meditating Students Under Way

America’s stressed out youth just got two unlikely allies: award-winning filmmaker David Lynch and legendary singer/songwriter Donovan Leitch. The two iconic artists are raising money to fund research studies on the effects of stress-reducing meditation for the growing numbers of students suffering from acute levels of stress, anxiety, depression, drug dependency, and ADHD and other learning disorders.

Lynch (Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive) will be in New York City January 11 and 12 to discuss his new book, Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity (Tarcher/Penguin) and his new film, INLAND EMPIRE.

On Friday, January 12, Lynch, who has been practicing Transcendental Meditation for 33 years, will be joined by fellow long-time meditator Donovan (Sunshine Superman, Mellow Yellow, Jennifer Juniper) for a benefit talk and concert at Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, at 8 p.m. The event will raise awareness and support for his David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace (www.davidlynchfoundation.org), which is funding in-school Transcendental Meditation programs for at-risk youth.

During the past 18 years, the National Institutes of Health has provided more than $24 million to study the effects of Transcendental Meditation on stress and heart disease—disorders afflicting an increasing number of young people. One recent NIH-funded study, published in June 2006 in the American Medical Association’s Archives of Internal Medicine, found TM practice reduced the risk factors for high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.

Another study, now in its second year at American University in Washington, D.C., is monitoring the effects of Transcendental Meditation on the academic performance and mental and physical health of 250 meditating university students from American, Georgetown, George Washington, Howard, and the University of the District of Columbia (www.au-tm-study.org).

The Lynch Foundation was established 18 months ago, and has already provided more than $3 million for thousands of students, teachers, and parents to learn Transcendental Meditation as part of anti-stress/wellness programs in schools throughout the country. Lynch says there are hundreds of new schools ready to participate in the program.