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Meital Dohan, host of Loud Miracles, interviews Stephen Hopson, author of Obstacle Illusions

April 12, 2011

Deaf, Living Life, and Surprising Everyone

Meital Dohan talks to Stephen Hopson, a former Wall Street stockbroker who’s deaf handicap pushed him to work harder than the rest. They discuss his school life growing up, along with how he got the job on Wall Street plus how his work drive and passion made him a highly recognized broker. They talk about why he gave that all up to be a motivational speaker and how miracles played a role in his life. This episode features music from Geela’s Album, The Veil of Life. The interview is now posted on SoundCloud.

Listen to other interviews by Meital Dohan on The Uncarved Blog.

Meital has moved on but her interviews are posted on SoundCloud.

More about Stephen Hopson
Stephen has been profoundly deaf since birth but that hasn’t stopped him! His mother taught him to speak at home and sent him to public school. When he was five, Stephen told his parents he would become a pilot and was dismissed as being foolish, but as an adult made aviation history by becoming the world’s first deaf instrument-rated pilot in 2006.

Stephen is a former Wall Street stockbroker where he won numerous sales awards and recognition in the coveted Executive Club three years in a row. In less than 4 years, he increased personal sales 1,700%. While in this position, he built and managed multi-million dollar investment portfolios for wealthy clients.

Stephen is a man of intense passion who is known as a risk-taker with a capital R. In 1996, he stunned his family, friends and colleagues by giving up a lucrative six-figure Wall Street career to follow his divine calling of becoming an inspirational speaker and author. At that time, he had not spoken to a live audience since graduating from college 15 years earlier nor did he have any writing credentials.

You can find out more about about Stephen Hopson at his website: http://sjhopson.com. To learn more about his book, visit the landing page for Obstacle Illusions: http://www.obstacleillusionsbook.com. For other articles and interviews on Stephen posted on this blog, click here.

Posted in Articles, Writing | Leave a Comment »

Indonesian Mystery Poem honoring Nyi Roro Kidul

April 12, 2011

Indonesian Mystery Poem
Honoring Nyi Roro Kidul
Queen of the Southern Seas

He hides within the rock
of three dimensions
and cannot be found
in this world

When night comes
she rises like a moon
to shine her light
upon the mountain

The sea dances
rising and falling
like a lover
in her arms

What pull does she have
on his life
as she looks for a partner
to dance with

The moon bows
before the rising sun
and he is left
breathless

© Ken Chawkin
June 2000
Jakarta, Indonesia

(more…)

Posted in Art, Literature, My poems, Poetry | 13 Comments »

Dr. Sherrill Sellman interviews Stephen Hopson on PRN’s What Women Must Know

April 11, 2011

What Women Must Know – 04/11/11

Today Dr. Sherrill Sellman interviewed Stephen Hopson about his life and book, Obstacle Illusions, on What Women Must Know with Dr. Sellman, on the Progressive Radio Network. Stephen is introduced at 5:46 minutes into the show. To listen to this “profoundly inspiring interview” click on the title or download the mp3. You can find out more about Obstacle Illusions at http://www.obstacleillusionsbook.com, and about Stephen Hopson at http://sjhopson.com. See additional articles and interviews for Stephen posted here on this blog.

Posted in Articles, Writing | Leave a Comment »

Deaf Pilot Tells His Record-Setting Story on ANN

April 4, 2011

Deaf Pilot Tells His Record-Setting Story on AkronNewsNow.com

The 28-minute special with Ryan Haidet, aired Sunday morning (4-03-2011) on two of AkronNewsNow stations — 1590 WAKR and 97.5 WONE. They aired five minutes of that interview again this morning (Monday, April 4, 2011) on 1590 WAKR.  And it has been running in the news as a short story on all three of their stations — 97.5 WONE, 94.9 WQMX and 1590 WAKR.

You can listen to the whole interview, after a short commercial here: http://bit.ly/gMcjhW. Link to article with photo: http://bit.ly/dU3d9x.

Stephen Hopson will have another book-signing for Obstacle Illusions this Saturday, April 9, 2-4 pm, at Revelations Bookstore and Cafe in Fairfield, Iowa.

See related posts on Stephen Hopson here. You can read more about Hopson’s story on his website: www.sjhopson.com.

Posted in Articles, Writing | Leave a Comment »

The Journey by Mary Oliver

April 3, 2011

THE JOURNEY

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice —
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do —
determined to save
the only life you could save.

— Mary Oliver (Dream Work)

During a poetry reading at the 92nd Street Y for her new poetry book, A Thousand Mornings, Mary OIiver read The Journey (18:10), as well as some of her other well-known poems.

Read: Maria Shriver Interviews the Famously Private Poet Mary Oliver.

Others: Five A.M. in the Pinewoods (House of Light) Mindful (Why I Wake Early)

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver, photo by Ken West

See It Is I Who Must Begin by Václav Havel. It shares a similar sentiment.

See this remembrance of Mary Oliver with links to more of her poems.

— Written and compiled (citing sources) by Ken Chawkin for The Uncarved Blog.

Posted in Literature, Mary Oliver, Other poems, Poetry | 11 Comments »

Meditation improves maths and English

April 2, 2011

Meditation improves maths and English

Created: Monday, March 28, 2011

The Transcendental Meditation technique may be an effective approach to improve maths and English academic achievement in low-performing students, according to a new study published in the journal Education.

The study was conducted at a California public middle school with 189 students who were below proficiency level in English and maths. Change in academic achievement was evaluated using the California Standards Tests (CST).

Students who practised the Transcendental Meditation programme showed significant increases in maths and English scale scores and performance level scores over a one-year period. 41% of the meditating students showed a gain of at least one performance level in maths compared to 15% of the non-meditating controls.

Among the students with the lowest levels of academic performance, “below basic” and “far below basic,” the meditating students showed a significant improvement in overall academic achievement compared to the control group, which showed a slight gain.

“This initial research, showing the benefits of the Quiet Time/Transcendental Meditation programme on academic achievement, holds promise for public education,” said Sanford Nidich, EdD, lead author and professor of education at Maharishi University of Management. “The findings suggest that there is an easy-to-implement, value-added educational programme which can help low-performing minority students begin to close the achievement gap,” said Nidich.

Results highly relevant to South Africa

“This study has huge relevance to South Africa,” said Dr Taddy Blecher, director of Consciousness Based Education in South Africa. “The school featured in the study was situated in a poor and often violent neighbourhood, and the students participating in the study were from underprivileged socio-economic backgrounds, with low and sometimes very low levels of proficiency in basic educational skills. These are the same kind of challenges that confront educators in South Africa. At present, standard tests of basic skills (especially maths) at Grade 6 level place South African children near the bottom of the international table.

“Where we have implemented Transcendental Meditation in South African schools,” Blecher continued, “results have been excellent. When 9,000 school-children learned TM in a Gauteng township their pass rates increased by 25%, while the pass rates of 12,000 children in other schools in the area fell by 1%.  South African schools implementing TM have also experienced a marked improvement in student motivation and discipline, as well as teacher morale.”

Faculty of the California school, surveyed as part of the project, reported the Quiet Time/Transcendental Meditation programme to be a valuable addition to the school. They reported the students to be calmer, happier, and less hyperactive, with an increased ability to focus on school-work. In terms of the school environment, faculty reported less student fights, less abusive language, and an overall more relaxed and calm atmosphere since implementation of the programme.

health24 is South Africa’s largest health website.

Also see New research shows Transcendental Meditation improves standardized academic achievement

Posted in Articles, Education | Leave a Comment »

Real Life Solution: Combating PTSD with TM

March 25, 2011

March 25, 2011 posted by Veterans Today · Leave a Comment

By Dr. David Leffler

In early 2010 WWII veteran Jerry Yellin was introduced to a young man, Dory Klock, an eight-year Army veteran who had fought in Bosnia. Dory was having difficulty adjusting, keeping a job, and fighting drugs and alcohol. As a combat veteran, Jerry knew these inner struggles all too well. Dory’s wife and two daughters were suffering with him, and Dory’s mom Lin, Jerry’s friend, was beside herself. Then one day Lin called and asked Jerry if he could help her out. “Sure, Lin, anything,” he told her.

She began weeping; she couldn’t speak. Finally, she asked, “Can you help me put Dory’s medals and ribbons on his dress uniform? We want to bury him in it, Jerry. He committed suicide yesterday.” Lin brought Dory’s uniform to Jerry’s home and he put the medals and insignias in place. When Lin left, Jerry broke down. His thoughts ran wild with the suffering so many are experiencing from the life and death of our warriors who experience combat and have nothing to hold onto when they come home. Jerry was a P-51 Pilot who flew 19 missions over Japan and saw the horror of Iwo Jima – a battle involving 90,000 soldiers on a small island where 28,000 people died. He knew from his own experiences as a returning veteran who suffered from what is now called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that the problem is overwhelming our nation.

Jerry relates: “Can we expect our warriors to return from the horrors and experiences of war and integrate back into a normal routine without something deep and meaningful to hold onto? I could not. And neither can they. I also know that each and every PTSD victim needs a vehicle, a methodology that will help them help themselves. Antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs are used extensively but are extremely costly, especially for the long haul, and do not provide a cure. Many turn to alcohol and recreational drugs as a temporary escape from problems. Eighteen veterans from all our wars are said to be committing suicide daily. I know that care is dependent on complete willingness and cooperation from the patient. And that takes a long time. America does not have that time now. We are in crisis.”

This article offers a scientifically verified, time-tested solution to how we can help our military personnel, veterans and their families.

Read the rest of Real Life Solution: Combating PTSD with TM.

Also posted on OpEd News and the Purple Heart Service Foundation as Combating PTSD.

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Posted in Articles, David Lynch Foundation, Peace | Leave a Comment »

Positive News: Could the military use meditation to create peace?

March 24, 2011

Read this article published in the Spring 2011 Issue 67 of Positive News: Could the military use meditation to create peace? by David Hugues.

All his life, Einstein searched for proof of one underlying field of creation – a ‘unified field,’ more basic and many hundreds of thousands of times more powerful than the nuclear level. Today, scientists around the globe are beginning to believe that such a field indeed exists; and there’s growing evidence that a simple technique, Transcendental Meditation, may access this field and harness its power to create peace in the world. What’s more, some military authorities are quietly taking the idea seriously, and have begun applying it for themselves.

Download the PDF to read this interesting article.

Posted in Articles, Peace | Leave a Comment »

Meditation on the rise locally, nationally

March 24, 2011

The Daily Iowan: Meditation on the rise locally, nationally

BY KENDALL MCCABE | MARCH 24, 2011 7:20 AM

Click here to view an exclusive photo slideshow.

Yosra Elkhalifa felt stressed. She sat in an individual study room at the Blank Honors Center, her midterm in Theory and Practice of Argument just an hour away. But instead of cramming, she began to meditate.

She did not twist into a yogic pose but sat comfortably in a straight-backed chair with her eyes closed and her hands folded in her lap.

The University of Iowa freshman said transcendental meditation has given her a more positive outlook on life, though she has been practicing for only six weeks.

“I felt like I almost had an advantage over other people because I wasn’t panicking over the test,” she said. “I’ve been able to focus better, which is crucial, because I’m taking 17 credit hours.”

Nationally, the number of Americans meditating is increasing.

Click here to view video. (click here for free QuickTime player download)

According to a 2007 U.S. Census Bureau Survey, nearly 10 percent of the population over 18 practices some form of meditation, up from about 8 percent in 2002.

Locally, both transcendental and Buddhist meditation techniques are growing in popularity, Iowa City instructors said.

Linda Rainforth, who taught Elkhalifa transcendental meditation, conducts free introductory lectures. She said there are well more than 100 Iowa City residents who meditate, with thousands in Iowa.

Her students, who range from 6-year-olds to seniors, often meet at the Iowa City Public Library for group meditation.

Before beginning, they decide how long to meditate, then sit comfortably in their chairs with their eyes closed; the only sound is the ticking of a nearby clock.

“Take a few minutes to come out,” Rainforth whispers when the time is up, prompting students to slowly open their eyes.

College students who want to learn the art of transcendental meditation can take courses, which require a tuition payment.

The David Lynch Foundation, a nonprofit group based in Fairfield, Iowa, aims to fund scholarship programs for schools and other groups and pay for transcendental-meditation training for those wanting to learn the technique. The organization boasts many celebrities on its advisory boards, such as hip-hop pioneer Russell Simmons and actor Stephen Collins.

“We find that people are excited about transcendental meditation as they hear about the [foundation],” Rainforth said. “Many people at the top of their field are coming out and talking about transcendental meditation.”

Rainforth, who has practiced the technique for 34 years, said more than 30 UI students, staff, and faculty practice transcendental meditation regularly. One-third of the participants are new to meditation, she said, but the other two-thirds are “long-term.”

Katie Nimmer-Tsilosani, a North Liberty resident, said she runs a demanding childcare business in her home.

“[Transcendental meditation] provides me deep relaxation as well as a boost of energy that is much appreciated in my busy and fun life,” she wrote in an e-mail.

Link to rest of the article: http://www.dailyiowan.com/2011/03/24/Metro/22323.html.

This article was later mentioned in Third Age.com: Meditation On the Rise in America.

Posted in Articles, David Lynch Foundation, Education | Leave a Comment »

New research shows Transcendental Meditation improves standardized academic achievement

March 21, 2011

New research shows TM improves standardized academic achievement
A study with at-risk urban middle school students

The Transcendental Meditation® technique may be an effective approach to improve math and English academic achievement in low-performing students, according to a new study published in the journal Education.

The study was conducted at a California public middle school with 189 students who were below proficiency level in English and math. Change in academic achievement was evaluated using the California Standards Tests (CST).

“The results of the study provide support to a recent trend in education focusing on student mind/body development for academic achievement,” said Dr. Ronald Zigler, study co-author and associate professor at Penn State, Abington. “We need more programs of this kind implemented into our nation’s public schools, with further evaluation efforts.”

Students who practiced the Transcendental Meditation program showed significant increases in math and English scale scores and performance level scores over a one-year period. Forty-one percent of the meditating students showed a gain of at least one performance level in math compared to 15.0% of the non-meditating controls.

Among the students with the lowest levels of academic performance, “below basic” and “far below basic,” the meditating students showed a significant improvement in overall academic achievement compared to controls, which showed a slight gain.

“This initial research, showing the benefits of the Quiet Time/Transcendental Meditation program on academic achievement, holds promise for public education” said Sanford Nidich, EdD, lead author and professor of education at Maharishi University of Management. “The findings suggest that there is an easy-to-implement, value-added educational program which can help low-performing minority students begin to close the achievement gap,” said Dr. Nidich.

The middle school level is of particular concern to educators because of low academic performance nationally. Sixty-six percent of eighth-grade students are below proficiency level in math and 68% are below proficiency level in reading, based on 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress data.

Faculty surveyed as part of the project reported the Quiet Time/Transcendental Meditation program to be a valuable addition to the school. They reported the students to be calmer, happier, and less hyperactive, with an increased ability to focus on schoolwork. In terms of the school environment, faculty reported less student fights, less abusive language, and an overall more relaxed and calm atmosphere since implementation of the program.

The study was supported by the David Lynch Foundation.

Study Facts

• This study evaluated change in academic achievement in public middle school students practicing the Transcendental Meditation program compared to non-meditating controls. A total of 189 students (125 meditating and 64 non-meditating students), who were below proficiency level at baseline in English and math, were evaluated for change in academic achievement, using the California Standards Tests (CST).

• Ninety-seven percent were racial and ethnic minority students.

• The Transcendental Meditation program was practiced in class twice a day as part of the school’s Quiet Time program for three months prior to posttesting.

• The Transcendental Meditation program was taught in the context of a school-wide Quiet Time program in which students voluntarily chose the Quiet Time program in which they wanted to participate.

• The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple, natural, effortless technique that allows the mind to settle down and experience a silent yet awake state of awareness, a state of “restful alertness.” Practice of this stress reduction program does not involve any change in beliefs, values, religion, or lifestyle.

• Compared to eyes-closed rest, research has found that Transcendental Meditation practice is characterized by decreased activation or arousal of the autonomic nervous system, as reflected in decreased breath rate and lower sympathetic nervous system activity. The Transcendental Meditation program has been shown to increase electroencephalographic (EEG) brain integration and coherence, especially in the frontal area of the brain, responsible for higher-order processing.

• Other published research on high school and college students has shown reduced psychological distress, improved positive coping ability, decreased blood pressure, reduced cardiovascular reactivity to stressful stimuli, reduced absenteeism, and decreased school suspensions.

• Results of the current study indicated improvement for meditating students compared to controls on English scale scores (p = .002) and math scale scores (p < .001). A greater percentage of meditating students improved at least one performance level in math and English compared to controls (p values < .01).

• A matched-control subgroup of 50 students in each group yielded similar results.

Facts on Academic Achievement

• According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 68% of eight grade students nationally are below proficiency level in reading and 66% are below proficiency in math, based on 2009 data.

• Nearly 1.3 million students did not graduate from high school in 2010.

• For further facts please see the National Assessment of Educational Progress: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/subjectareas.asp
Also see Alliance for Excellence in Education website http://www.all4ed.org/files/UnitedStates.pdf

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Posted today, March 21, 2011: New research shows Transcendental Meditation improves standardized academic achievement. Source: EurekAlert!

Also reported in South Africa by health24:Meditation improves maths and English

Also see: San Francisco Bay Area News: From time-out to quiet time: meditation comes to SF schools

This new article: The San Francisco Examiner—Meditation program mends troubled Visitacion Valley Middle School

TM Blog reports (with video): “Meditation mends troubled school in San Francisco” – SF Examiner, and Struggling students find TM improves academic achievement: New research.

MUM BLOG Reports: Transcendental Meditation: Improving academic performance.

See Related Research: Transcendental Meditation Effective Antidote to Record Stress Levels in School Students.

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Posted in Articles, Education | 1 Comment »

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