This wonderful interview is also available from Ted Henry & Jody Cleary on Vimeo. Retired TV journalist Ted Henry conducts interviews with spiritual people for Souljourns. Last month he interviewed Prudence Bruns Farrow. You can also see the interview on their Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/67166559. Here is their introduction to the video:
SOULJOURNS – PRUDENCE FARROW BRUNS, HER LIFE WITH TM AND MAHARISHI MAHESH YOGI
From the very beginning Prudence Farrow Bruns recognized an added layer or texture to her life, a spiritual dimension that would take her deep within.
She was among the first in the West to become initiated into Transcendental Meditation and in the mid sixties she traveled to Rishikesh, India to learn to become a TM teacher. Her own teacher in India, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who is credited for bringing TM to the world.
In India with her at this time, her sister and acclaimed actress, Mia Farrow, The Beatles, Mike Love of the Beach Boys, Donovan and others.
Prudence and her husband, Albert Bruns who is also a TM instructor, live in Seagrove along the Gulf of Mexico in Northwest Florida.
The interview was recorded in Seagrove, Florida in May, 2013.
This article on Transcendental Meditation was one of the rotating stories on The Daily Beast today, April 23, 2013. It was the 9th top story of rotating images in the big box on the upper left corner of the home page. The article appeared as a result of Rupert Murdoch learning to meditate last weekend. It was supposed to be private, but he tweeted about it and drew media attention. Click on the links below to see photos and descriptions of the 14 featured meditating celebs.
Celebs Who Meditate – The Daily Beast – Invision/AP; WireImage
Transcendental Meditation has made its rounds with celebrities as far back as when the Beatles were a unit, but is once again creeping up as the latest trend among celebrities. Rupert Murdoch recently tweeted on his indoctrination into the mantra meditation movement, Oprah Winfrey devoted an entire show to it, and David Lynch even launched a nonprofit foundation for the practice.
The technique was established in India by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1950s and has spread worldwide since, used as a means to relieve stress and build personal development. The practice involves twice-a-day, 15- to 20-minute meditations, and courses are taught by certified instructors for a fee. See which other stars are endorsing the practice and taking time for some inner peace!
Paul Horn, Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and David Lynch attend the press conference for the David Lynch Foundation “Change Begins Within” Benefit Concert at Radio City Music Hall on April 3, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
I also read an interview with Paul Horn in the first chapter of A Symphony of Silence: An Enlightened Vision by George A. Ellis. Paul spoke about his philosophy of music and improvisation, how he communicated musically with a killer whale at an aquarium in Victoria, BC, and in Hawaii. He also spoke about his own spiritual quest, how he started Transcendental Meditation and met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He discussed how he was invited to join a course in India with Maharishi and his experiences there. George Ellis also asked Paul questions about his becoming a TM teacher in those early days, and also playing his flute in the Taj Mahal. It’s a great interview, and a wonderful way to start the book! It got me hooked.
Rolf Erickson, editor-in-chief of Enlightenment, The Transcendental Meditation Magazine, emailed to say there’s an excerpt of the interview with Paul Horn in the latest issue, number 11, called The Music of Meditation. In it, George cites a beautiful quote from Paul’s own book, Inside Paul Horn: The Spiritual Odyssey of a Universal Traveler, highlighted at the top of the article: “We are traveling in historical time, from the present to the distant past. We are traveling inwardly as well, through the music of meditation.” Rolf also contributed an article about George Ellis, Sharing the Symphony of Silence, describing what he had accomplished as a TM teacher and entrepreneur, and his heartfelt tribute to Maharishi with this book. Visit http://asymphonyofsilence.com.
During his visit to MUM and Fairfield, Jo Ann Gesner interviewed Paul for an article, Paul Horn: Improvisation from the Inside Out, published in Enlightenment Magazine’s 6th issue as Inside with Musician Paul Horn, with a beautiful photo that Jo Ann took of Paul and his wife, Ann Mortifee, in front of the mural painted by Lynne Teeple in Café Paradiso.
This video, Inside Paul Horn, is an overview of Paul Horn’s career. Originally titled, Inside Paul Horn Special Edition, it includes clips from Story of a Jazz Musician – David Wolper Presents, and was uploaded on Jan 14, 2011 by annmortifee. It seems to have been taken down now but you can see the full 3-part film here.
Paul Horn died June 29, 2014. There were many memorial articles about the jazz flutist, composer and creator of new age music who also became a teacher of Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation at his ashram in Rishikesh, India. He taught thousands to meditate in the United States and returned to make a film about Maharishi when the Beatles happened to be there to learn more about TM at his ashram. The Guardian announced his passing: Paul Horn, father of new age music, dies aged 84, then published a more detailed obituary.
Since 2005 the David Lynch Foundation has shared Transcendental Meditation with our most stressed populations. http://www.davidlynchfoundation.org
Veterans: “A year ago this month I was suicidal. I was so low that I just wanted to not be here….Transcendental Meditation saved my life.”
At-Risk Youth: “I used to say I’m gonna get my grades up I’m gonna do better. But still it was just what I said, it never happened. Until I started meditating.”
African Refugees: “After my husband died my in-laws turned against me. They tortured me, almost killed me….those days I used to cry too much but now even the tears, they are holding. I’m great.”
Prisoners: “If you just take the time to meditate, free your mind, everything will come together.”
Homeless: “I was just so frustrated and full of misguided anger I didn’t know where to direct it to….people tell me you’re so calm….it’s surprising even to me.”
Native Americans: “I lost four members of my family to diabetes. I don’t want that to happen to my people….Since I started TM my sugar has been where it should be. So, I’m sold on TM.”
20 minutes twice a day changed them. Meditation changed them.
“Sorrow, anxiety, traumatic stress, depression, hate, anger, rage, fear start to lift away. Life just gets better and better and better.” – David Lynch
“I think this is what people need. They don’t need high minded talk, they need results.” – Paul McCartney
“Speaking as a scientist the amazing thing about Transcendental Meditation is the very well-established research showing the technique impacts things that we didn’t think were changeable.” – Dr. Oz
“The initial research on the effects of Transcendental Meditation in treating PTSD offers so much hope. Better then many things being tried at far less a cost.” – Candy Crowley
On Sunday Night, February 5, 2012, Channel 7 reporter Ross Coulthart conducted an exclusive interview with Ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney for Channel Seven’s Sunday Night. Besides talking about his latest CD, Kisses on the Bottom, Paul answered questions about his earlier days in the Beatles and visit to Australia, his music, and his wives.
Speaking of Paul’s wives, here’s something I caught by surprise on YouTube while watching Paul McCartney on Ellen recorded November 2005—Nancy Shevell in the audience! Paul was still married to Heather Mills at the time. The lady in the front row audience shots 0:22–0:25, and 5:15–5:16 definitely looks like her.
According to Wiki, McCartney started dating Shevell in November 2007, before he finalized his divorce with Heather Mills. But this show was taped 2 years earlier in Nov 2005. Wonder if they knew each other back then, if she actually met Paul back in 2005 on the Ellen show? If not, 2 years seem to have passed until they started dating. Either way, it’s kind of prophetic! They announced their engagement three and half years later on 6 May 2011, and were married after five months on 9 October 2011. This one looks like a keeper. We wish them both much happiness. I especially love the beautiful song Paul wrote for Nancy, which they danced to on their wedding night, My Valentine.
Here’s an online streaming event with Donovan and Deepak talking about the old days with Maharishi, Transcendental Meditation, The Beatles, and the music from the 60’s. Thanks to Linda, Donovan’s wife and muse, for suggesting Donovan be on this special event: http://livestre.am/1IWyp on abc carpet & home via @livestream.
Paul McCartney’s new video for “My Valentine,” with Natalie Portman. The track is the first single from McCartney’s fifteenth solo record, ‘Kisses On The Bottom,’ and features Eric Clapton on guitar. Click this link to see the Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman version directed by Paul McCartney in large format:http://embed.5min.com/517333259/
Paul McCartney is fast approaching the ripe age of 70, but the former Beatle and British knight is showing no signs of slowing down. Late Friday night in Los Angeles, McCartney premiered the video for “My Valentine,” featuring some unknown extras by the name of Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman.
HuffPost Entertainment is exclusively premiering the video online — you can see it at the top of this post.
According to a press release, it was McCartney’s daughter, the fashion designer Stella, who inspired the visuals for “My Valentine.” There are three videos for the song, which is off of McCartney’s latest album, Kisses on the Bottom.
Kisses on the Bottom features the elder statesman of rock and roll looking back on the standards that inspired him. The album is his fifteenth studio record and features two original compositions, “My Valentine” and “Only Our Hearts.”
“My Valentine” was widely touted as the better of the original tracks, so its no wonder McCartney chose to bring it to life.
“Someday soon, sun was gonna shine,” Depp signs. “She was right, this love of mine, my valentine.”
McCartney called in some heavy talent to assist in the production of the videos. Oscar-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister (“Dark Knight,” “Inception”) committed the visuals to 35 mm film. Susanne Preissler produced the short and Paul Martinez edited.
“We thought thirty was like really old,” McCartney said while doing press for the album. “Now I think it’s amazingly young. There was a guy at John’s art college who was 24 and we felt very sorry for him, he looked like a real old guy, he had a five -o-clock shadow, he looked really pathetic to us because we were like, 16 … I’m really just some kid from Liverpool still.”
To see the Closed Caption words to the song, go to Paul McCartney – My Valentine 2012 sub ENG and ESP (lyrics), click the ‘cc’ button and choose the subtitle language English. It’s also available in Spanish. This one has the words written out under Show more, but left out the word, that, in the second stanza, third line: Paul McCartney – My Valentine.
On February 10, 2012, Paul was honored as the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year. At a gala event in Los Angeles, Paul and a cast of superstar guests performed some of the quintessential songs from his renowned and celebrated career. One of the songs was My Valentine performed by Paul McCartney with Joe Walsh and Diana Krall (43:17).
NPR: the Fresh Air interview with Terri Gross from WHYY:Paul McCartney Blows ‘Kisses’ To His Father’s Era, March 29, 2012 [45 min 29 sec]. Terri sets up the last song, My Valentine, but first asks Paul to tell the story of how it came about [36:30 to end]. Delightful, fascinating interview! These songs can be heard on the NPR player: ‘I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself a Letter’, ‘Home (When Shadows Fall)’, ‘My Valentine’.
I discovered some surprising connections between Nancy Shevell, Paul McCartney’s new wife, and his first wife, Linda McCartney (They were pals.), and Barbara Walters (She’s my second cousin.). See Who Is Nancy Shevell, Paul McCartney’s New Wife?
Former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunited on an American stage for the only time in the past 20 years during this historic 2009 Radio City Music Hall benefit concert, which will be broadcast on New York City’s channel THIRTEEN on Sunday, April 29, at 10:30 pm (check local listings for broadcast times and dates in your area).
The Beatle reunion highlights the 90-minute “Change Begins Within” concert to benefit the David Lynch Foundation, a charity set up in 2005 by the iconic filmmaker David Lynch to fund Transcendental Meditation programs for at-risk youth, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, and women who suffer from domestic abuse and violence.
McCartney performs a set of Beatles, Wings and solo classics; Starr sings his own set of Beatle and solo hits; and McCartney and Starr join together on stage for a finale of “With A Little Help from My Friends,” Paul’s rarely performed “Cosmically Conscious,” and Beatle fan favorite “I Saw Her Standing There.”
Also appearing on the broadcast are comedian Jerry Seinfeld as well as musicians Sheryl Crow (“My Sweet Lord”), Eddie Vedder and Ben Harper (“Under Pressure”), Moby and Betty LaVette (“Natural Blues”), Paul Horn, newly-elected Rock-and-Roll-Hall of Famer Donovan and Jim James (“Hurdy Gurdy Man”).
The concert was co-produced by Hoosick Falls Productions and David Lynch Foundation Television with executive producer George Verschoor.
Press contact: Elizabeth Freund, Elizabeth@BeautifulDayMedia.com, 718-522-5858, for more information or to arrange an interview with David Lynch.
FACTS
The David Lynch Foundation has provided scholarships for more than 200,000 students and veterans to learn to meditate.
Transcendental Meditation is a simple, easily learned technique, practiced for 15 to 20 minutes twice daily, sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. According to research funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, the technique reduces stress and stress-related disorders, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and substance abuse.
Prominent meditators include Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Russell Brand, Ellen DeGeneres, Clint Eastwood, Mehmet Oz, Martin Scorsese, Jerry Seinfeld, Russell Simmons, and Oprah Winfrey.
As far as I know there won’t be any DVDs of this PBS special available for purchase.* It will play in different markets across the country during May, June and July. So you may want to set your DVR to save a copy when it broadcasts in your area. You’ll want to see it, and share it with your friends, over and over again. It was the most intensely joyful and fun-filled concert I had ever attended. All of the musicians and the audience were deliriously happy! And it was for a very worthy cause. There was an avalanche of news coverage! Here is an article in April 13, 2009 Issue of The New Yorker by Nancy Franklin: All Together Now. (PDF)
James had played 2 days, Jan 23-24, at the Sundance Film Festival the previous week. Here he is drawing a picture of a fan and signing autographs after one of those concerts. He also played at the Viper Room after he appeared on GDLA. James made his US Television debut when he sang Angel on Good Day LA from his album “The Complete EP Collection.”
Awesome song! He played it for a few of us who were fortunate enough to see him on his first visit to Fairfield, and later on a David Lynch Weekend at the Sondheim Theater. You knew it was going to be a hit, and he was going to be a star. James is a quiet unassuming person, and a very talented young man. We wish him much success in his chosen career.
In the grips of the recession some Transcendental Meditation can help, writes Barry Egan
Sunday, October 23, 2011
If there ever was a time that Ireland needed a little spirituality it is surely now.
Wise men of thought (wiser than the dour, sourpuss economists who seem to get off on telling us the bad times are only going to get badder) have long told us that meditation is a more substantial reality than that which we normally take to be reality. Many people are searching for a more meaningful existence, and Transcendental Meditation (TM) is providing the answer for some; myself included, my mum was dead a year last Sunday and TM helped me through some if not all of that darkness.
Next Tuesday,Transcendental Meditation Ireland will try to answer the need for something deeper in a country and a people shaken by recession with the public launch of the new TM website.
“It’s obvious that many people in Ireland have become very disillusioned with life,” influential TM teacher Noel O’Neill told me. “The material dream that had been held up to them has been pulled out from under their feet and many are left with nothing but debts and a life-long mortgage. Even the people who are not financially crippled are facing ever increasing levels of stress. TM is becoming increasingly recognised as a means of dealing with these stressful situations. When we practise TM we become aware of an inner aspect of our lives, a silent level of our minds which is untouched by the chaos going on around us. We discover a sense of happiness which is dependent on nothing else but ourselves, we become more self-reliant and don’t let our situation overwhelm us,” Noel says, adding that the new site — www.tm-ireland.org — contains endorsements of TM by the likes of David Lynch, Paul McCartney, Clint Eastwood,Jerry Seinfeld and a whole host of Irish TM luminaries like Dr Donn Brennan.
Hollywood actress Eva Mendes credits TM with having a positive effect on her career. In a recent interview, she spoke of the virtues of TM.
“I’m actually huge into meditation, Transcendental Meditation, and that really helps create not only a sense of balance, but serenity and a calm state of mind. It helps me deal with life’s ups and downs,” she says.
She also spoke of the influence of Hollywood director David Lynch’s book on TM and creativity, Catching the Big Fish, and how the technique has helped her as an actor.
“All aspects of life improve with TM — mental, physical and spiritual,” says Noel. “The research is there for anyone to see. Now we need a new formula for living life. We are ‘human beings’, it’s the aspect of ‘being’ that has been ignored in life. We are only aware of the surface values of life, our happiness is dependent on outside things, how much we get paid, how big your house is etc, but as we now know all these things are subject to very rapid change.
“Being, the silent field of creativity that lies deep within everyone, however, is not subject to change, and it is this aspect of life, this side of our nature that we experience and enliven when we practise TM. True lasting happiness can only come from within us.”
Noel says that there is an upsurge in interest in TM worldwide. “Oprah Winfrey surprised the ladies of Fairfield, Iowa, who practise Maharishi Mahesh Yogi‘s Transcendental Meditation when she meditated with them last Wednesday evening,” he says.
Drogheda GP Dr Alan Moran says he looked into TM, and saw how relaxed it left people, how it lowered blood pressure, and left people with an overall feeling of calmness and wellness. Their thoughts were clearer, they slept better and seemed to adjust to life’s ups and downs better.
“Daily I meet people who I feel could benefit from TM I see them suffering in large and small ways from worries and annoyances that they have allowed under their skins. People ask if I do TM, I say it’s a bit like a stockbroker who comes across a fund which is doing really well, is stable, and has a long history of doing well and paying dividends to those who are part of it. Would that stockbroker then buy shares in that fund?”
Noel O’Neill adds that the new Irish site will give up-to-the minute details of all the latest research on TM.
“The site will answer any commonly asked questions,” says Noel, who will speak at its public launch at 3pm on Tuesday in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, along with Dr Donn Brennan GP, Dr Joe Hayden (TM Ireland national director) and TM teacher John Burns.
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