June 2000

"Now We Have a Face"
by Dr. Christy Kleinschnitz

Last October, with great fanfare, the first Maharishi Vedic Center in North America opened in Bethesda, Maryland. "Now we have a face in the community," comments Mr. Albert Abramson, a prominent developer whose son Jeffrey and daughter-in-law Rona are on the Center’s Board of Directors.

The Bethesda Center was built with the support of over 90 families who collectively decided to take advantage of the life-supporting effect of Maharishi Sthapatya Veda design. In order to construct the building as quickly as possible, they forged ahead in a self-sufficient way. The beautiful two-story structure was built completely with donations and is debt free.

Six months later, Washington D.C.-area Meditators are discovering the benefits of their remarkable building. One result is an increase in personal instructions in the TM program. Meditators also report more profound and restful experiences during group practice of the TM and TM-Sidhi programs.

Equally noteworthy is the number of people coming to the new building for Refresher Courses to renew their understanding and experience of transcending. In response to phone calls, 46 people came to the first session. Then 30 more attended a Friday afternoon course. A few weeks later, another 50 came.

Laura Courtney, Executive Director of the Center, observes, "Without exception, everyone who comes into the building comments on the atmosphere of nourishment and clarity. The good feeling lingers with them and motivates people to participate to a greater degree in our programs. The experience shared by everyone working here is that our goal of promoting all of Maharishi’s programs is easily accomplished once we have people in this perfect Vastu."

Nancy Lonsdorf, M.D., has moved her medical office to the building. She reports that now patients often ask whether they should learn the TM technique, rather than waiting for her to suggest it.

The proper Vastu, the auspicious design and placement of the building, is creating success in other ways. During a recent 6-week period, three leading news shows aired interviews on the health benefits of the TM program. One major network came to interview Dr. Lonsdorf and a new Meditator who had experienced dramatic reduction in high blood pressure. The segment aired on the 6 o’clock news, and the Center received 65 calls in the next half hour alone. Many of the callers have since learned the TM technique.

In April, The Montgomery Journal ran a front-page article about the Center being selected to conduct NIH-sponsored studies on reducing cardiovascular disease using the TM technique.

"The building makes it clear to people that there is a holistic package of Vedic knowledge beyond the TM program," Laura explains. "They get this feeling just from stepping inside. They learn about the TM technique, then the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health. Each step has its own level of impact. The Maharishi Vedic Center gives a material face to the abstract transcendental field that is within everyone and everything."

For more information on the Bethesda Maharishi Vedic Center, visit their Web site: www.MVC-Bethesda.org.

Dr. Christy Kleinschnitz and her husband, Dr. Kurt Kleinschnitz, are Time Zone Administrators for Maharishi Global Administration through Natural Law for the Eastern United States.