Be Still. Do. Become.
Consciousness, Transcendental Meditation, Freemasonry, and the Making of an Extraordinary Life
The day was Friday, 25 April 2008, during a torrential downpour, that I learned Transcendental Meditation in Fairfield, Iowa. The weekend was part of Maharishi University of Management’s David Lynch Weekend when prospective students visit the campus to learn more about the university’s academic programs and the Transcendental Meditation technique; and in some cases actually learn TM. (Yes! That David Lynch!) That day, my life was irrevocably changed in that the experience only added to what had been, up to that point, a long series of serendipitous events that may defy logic — for some. Oh, wait! Perhaps I should start at the beginning.
In the Fall of 2006, my friend and Mentor, Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter, Sr., Dean of Martin Luther King, Jr. Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta, called me and, after our usual greeting, simply said, “You need to read this book.” The book to which he referred is titled Manual for a Perfect Government and is written by Quantum Physicist and President of Maharishi University of Management, John Hagelin, PhD. Having only known of Dr. Hagelin from his appearances in the movies What the Bleep Do We Know? (2004) and The Secret (2005), my curiosity was piqued. Plus, when a mentor, truly worthy of the appellation, is known for making solid book recommendations good mentees promptly investigate. This I did.
Having visited his office either later that afternoon or the next day, Dr. Carter, or “Dean” as many of us call him, gifted me a copy of the book. Upon returning home, study of the book began with keen interest. It was a great read. So much so, that I recommended it to a dear professor friend of mine, Dr. Layli Maparyan — then an Associate Professor and Director of the Women’s Studies Institute Graduate Program at Georgia State University in Atlanta now serving as Director of Wellesley Center for Women at Wellesley College. Like myself, she, too, enjoyed the book and, the following year, during her May-Mester class, invited me to serve as Guest Lecturer for the day to discuss the book and its implications with her students. (Admittedly, for me there was a degree of incredulity at having never heard of TM due largely to the research into Transcendental Meditation having been peer-reviewed, yet none of it surfaced during my studies for my second B.A., this time within Sociology, nor during my two and a half year stint in a graduate program; also within Sociology yet centered on Social Problems. Given the compelling nature of the research, imagine my consternation. When considering Karl Marx’s assertion regarding philosophers and the point of changing the world, it was not pretty.)
Unfortunately, I do not recall every point discussed in class that Spring day beyond it being a phenomenal experience overall. However, what struck me most were some discussion points on this simple, natural, and effortless meditative technique of transcending the active level of one’s mind and the thoughts populating said mind to reach the source of thoughts; which could make not only the individual better but the world writ-large. While the lecture was a success and the topic of Transcendental Meditation would eventually recede into the background of life, there remained a nagging feeling that there was more to come. It was not long before this was shown to be part of an accurate and ongoing premonition from several years prior.
The Way, Way Back
In the spring of 1993, I met a gentleman and we struck up one of those random conversations that, in hindsight these many years later cause one to wonder if there is such a thing as randomness. This guy was a smoker. I have never been. Yet, there was something about his demeanor and conversation that held my attention and we continued to talk that Spring day. About what, I do not fully recall. Yet, what remains uppermost in my mind, in addition to his smoking, are a few things: the book he recommended and his insistence that I seriously commit to its study; that he was a Freemason; and his parting words whilst shaking my hand as I committed to securing the book — “Young man, I have changed your life for the rest of your life.” Admittedly, from time-to-time, that moment and meeting are cause for reflection and the truth of that gentleman’s words remain evident to this day.
Given this was several years before Jeff Bezos founded Amazon, several bookstores were subsequently contacted to determine which could secure the book. Having located such a bookstore, the task now centered on making my way to said bookstore. After a lengthy conversation with a friend, they agreed to ferry me to the outskirts of Atlanta to order and pay for the book in advance. After some weeks, the bookstore representative called and informed me the book had arrived. And the trek occurred again.
Upon securing and studying the book in question, its material was indeed life-changing and a perfect accompaniment for the start of my academic career as its contents and exercises served to create the foundation for both my personal and university studies; not to mention my current doctoral dissertation research.
The Fall of 1994, the gentleman and I crossed paths again on the streets of downtown Atlanta near campus. While the exchange was brief, it was definitely memorable:
Him: “Young man, did you secure the book?”
Me: “Yes, sir!”
Him: “Did you study the book?”
Me: “Yes, sir!!”
Him: “Your results?”
Me: (After a deep breath.): “Wow! Where do I even begin?”
Him: “Good! Let’s talk again sometime.”
He then shook my hand and quietly disappeared into the crowd never to be seen again. While I cannot honestly say that I ever knew his name, for his suggestion as a result of a random conversation during the Spring of 1993, gratitude is an ever-present companion.
Fifteen Years of Study, Transcendental Meditation, Vedic Science, Consciousness Studies, Rosicrucianism, and Freemasonry
Between 1993 and 2008, the journey found me, in addition to my academic studies in History and Sociology both at the undergraduate and Graduate levels, studying many texts of early thinkers who sought to provide a way for humans to live better lives and their traditions — not solely for themselves but also for those within their spheres of influence. Admittedly, this study with its associated opportunities for reflection was considerable. Which brings me back to Friday, 25 April 2008 during that torrential downpour.
Having journeyed to Fairfield, Iowa after receiving a unsolicited email regarding Maharishi University of Management hosting their David Lynch Weekend that year, the decision was made to initiate the process required to learn Transcendental Meditation. Needless to say, everything along the way worked in ways that could only be described as incredibly synchronous and became yet another of those “best decision of my life” moments; of which there have been many.
For example: Upon receipt of an email dated 11 March 2008 announcing the opportunity to learn TM in Fairfield, Iowa, I called the number of the person from whom the email had been sent. The phone rang yet the call rolled to voicemail. Having left a message and then sending an email of thanks afterward, my mind nagged me to call back. So much so, that an internal debate ensued as to the merits of calling again after-hours when the initial call simply rolled to voicemail. After some internal debate, the decision was made to call again. To my surprise, the subsequent call was answered. The woman on the other end, to whom I will always remain grateful, answered my many questions and directed me to the University’s website. While perusing their Graduate programs, Vedic Science jumped off the screen. Upon clicking the link, I was drawn to the explanation of the program and never examined any of the other programs of study. In short, it was exactly what had been long-sought to no avail; yet, here it was. In that moment, I knew my life would never be the same. So, I took a leap of faith — and soared.
Undertaking the study of Vedic Science i.e., Consciousness Studies in the Fall of 2008 at the Graduate level remains one of my great joys in life; up there with being a Husband, Father, Freemason, and Director of the Transcendental Meditation program here in Cambridge with my wife, Mina. In short, this study has been nothing short of extraordinary as I have the unique opportunity to research a topic near and dear to my heart — Mystical Experiences Among Freemasons and Rosicrucians from both a quantitative and qualitative perspective. Yeah. This research is a lot of work yet there is a compelling factor for me to labour onward — my direct experience with the Ritual of Freemasonry and its transformative value. So, onward we travel with a goal of completing the dissertation this year then turning our attention to understanding this area of interest in greater detail via additional research/studies while continuing to aid as many people as possible in setting the foundation for even better, more well-rounded, and fulfilling lives via the Transcendental Meditation technique.
As for my journey to the shores of Freemasonry, it, too, was filled with many synchronicities which cause wonder as to the perfection of life when we choose to Be and Do better. In short, here, I am reminded of the sentiment that when we make a decision to move in the direction of discovering and expressing our highest and best selves, the Universe conspires to aid us in making such a reality. And as my ten-year anniversary as a Freemason approaches later this year, coupled with eleven practicing Transcendental Meditation, alongside six solid years of teaching the same, I can only wonder how very different my life would be were it not for both my learning Transcendental Meditation and subsequently becoming a Freemason during my Graduate School sojourn in Fairfield, Iowa at Maharishi University of Management. And to think, all of this began as a result of a serendipitous meeting on a Spring day in 1993 with a Freemason and a handshake commitment to secure and study a rare book that introduced me to the idea of Consciousness which has allowed me, coupled with my practice of TM, to eventually Be Still, Do, and Become — an even better man. Not perfect. Just better than I was.
For this journey with all of its synchronous moments and serendipitous meetings along the way, I remain eternally grateful and look forward to more such refinement.
As for that spontaneous meeting with the Freemason and his strong recommendation to which we acquiesed, the book is titled Three Magic Words and is penned by Uell Stanley Anderson; also known as U.S. Anderson. Without revealing the “three magic words,” (you must study this phenomenal work to not only discover them but to also fully appreciate their import and to experience the transformative process for yourself), the experience of the book allowed for an expansion of my thinking and actions in ways I had not anticipated. Fast-forward to the present day, and the marathon continues.
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Baruti KMT-Sisouvong is a PhD Candidate/Researcher in Vedic Science with Maharishi University of Management and, along with his wife, Mina, serves as Director of the Transcendental Meditation Program in Cambridge and Metropolitan Boston. He and his wife, Mina, have an incredibly inquisitive five year-old daughter named Chloë Rose and a “very chill” almost two year-old son named Emerson James Warren. You may follow him on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.