Life Transitions Center Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique® Life Transitions Center March 14, 2013

1. Introductions Dr. Bharat Jayaraman Professor Computer Science & Engineering University at Buffalo Padma Jayaraman Senior Software Analyst Clientlogic, Inc.

Outline 1. Non-disclosure Form 2. About Meditation 3. The IAM Technique

Non Disclosure Agreement

Amma - Founder of IAMT Born in South India. Overcame great personal hardships in early life. Has become a world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader. Extensive charitable service – including relief work for the tsunami, etc. Devised the IAM Technique to help people gain inner peace and live more fulfilled lives.

Gandhi-King Award, U.N. (2002) “Selfless Service is the best form of Inner Purification.” - Amma

Amma, the “Hugging Saint” Visits the U.S. in June, July, and November www.amma.org

SUNY Honorary Doctorate (May 2010)

2. About Meditation “Meditation is focusing the mind in a relaxed way on a single point.” – Patanjali, yoga authority in India “I think, therefore I AM!” – René Descartes, 17th century mathematician and philosopher. But we must stop thinking to know who we really are! “Our mind is like a non-stop TV program andwe have lost the remote control! The goal of meditation is to re-gain that control.” – Amma

Forms of Meditation There are many forms of meditation, including: - focusing on one’s breath - focusing on a word (“mantra”) - focusing on an image - focusing on a point in the body etc. Generally, meditation is practiced: - at a fixed time in the day (morning or evening) - at a fixed place (a quiet room), and - for a fixed duration (about 20 minutes)

Research on Meditation Since the 1960’s, the benefits of meditation have been validated by a variety of studies: - By universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, … - In journals such as Science, Scientific American, American Heart Association, … - In magazines such as Time, Newsweek, … Two main benefits: - Psychological - Physiological

Benefits - Psychological More Alert and Attentive Improved Learning, Creativity Reduced Anxiety, Depression benefits More Productive at Work Greater Emotional Stability Greater Peace and Joy

Benefits - Physiological Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels Greater Energy and Youthfulness Beneficial for Arthritis, Asthma benefits Speeds up Post-Operative Recovery Great for Women’s Health Higher Disease Resistance

3. Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique Visualization Sound Movement Breathing 14

Some Details of IAMT * IAMT can be practiced in about 20 minutes, preferably in the morning or the evening. * Wear comfortable, loose clothing. * Allow about 2 hours after a meal before starting IAMT. Allow about 15 minutes after IAMT before having a meal. * IAMT does not involve any religious symbolism, sound, or imagery nor does it require faith in god or any person.

About the Movements Do the movements slowly and gently, and stay within a pain-free range of motion. Synchronize movements with breathing: inhalation, expand; exhalation, contract. Do not close your eyes when doing movements standing. Those with a medical condition should not do some (or all) of the movements. Suffices to just visualize them.

IAMT Practitioners IAMT has been taught to thousands of people around the globe – Asia, Australia, Europe, U.S. and Canada. Several organizations, both corporate and government, in the US and other countries are bringing IAMT to their employees for its benefits. IAMT is also being to taught in prisons in New Mexico. The technique has been taught to a few institutions in Buffalo.

Buffalo State College – 2007

IAM at University at Buffalo -- South Campus

IAM near Rochester, NY (2008)

IAM being taught to Indian Army

Ultimately … We will be constantly in a state of meditation, no matter what our external activity – cooking, driving, studying, etc. That is, we will be perfectly still on the inside while being fully dynamic on the outside. Through the stillness and silence of the mind, we become more attentive and aware, and we are able to act with greater clarity of purpose. Meditation is the key to a more joyful and productive life. 22