American Meditation Institute
Transformation September - October 2021
Bringing Yoga Science to Life
americanmeditation.org
There’s a Crisis in
EDUCATION! And Here’s the
SOLUTION.
Leonard’s New Book is now available nationwide at all fine booksellers including Amazon.com, bn.com and YourConscience.org See page 6 for a preview.
AMI Classes for September - October 2021
YOGA SCIENCE
FOUNDATION COURSE INCLUDING AMI MEDITATION A TRANSFORMATIVE & EMPOWERING SELF-CARE PROGRAM - LIVE ON ZOOM
U NITING M IND , B ODY & S PIRIT
YOU’LL RECEIVE 36 TOOLS to Deal with the Stress and Challenges of Everyday Life American MEDITATION Institute Bringing Yoga Science to Life
Foundation Course Overview The curriculum for the FOUNDATION COURSE is based on the award-winning book, The Heart and Science of Yoga® by Leonard Perlmutter
Seated AMI Meditation • Mantra Science Diaphragmatic Breathing • Yoga Psychology Mind Function Optimization • Easy-Gentle Yoga Lymph System Detox • Nutrition • Ayurvedic Medicine YOGA SCIENCE––WEEK 1 How to use the mind for the best choices How to create new, healthier habits Understanding pain as an agent for healing Increasing energy, will power & creativity Antidotes for worry, stress and depression AMI MEDITATION––WEEK 2 Systematic procedure for AMI Meditation Diminishing distractions with mantra science Learning the one-minute meditation Building focus, fearlessness, and strength BREATHING TECHNIQUES––WEEK 3 Breath as Medicine How breathing irregularities foster dis-ease Complete (three-part) yogic breath 2
YOGA PSYCHOLOGY & AYURVEDA––WEEK 4 How the mind supports optimal health The power of the present moment Building and healing relationships Introduction to Ayurveda EASY-GENTLE YOGA EXERCISES––WEEK 5 Yoga stretches to benefit: muscles, joints, glands and internal organs Physiological benefits of yoga postures MIND /BODY SELF-CARE PLAN––WEEK 6 The healing power of prayer The practical benefits of contemplation Creating a therapeutic self-care plan for yourself Learning to budget your time Integrating spiritual beliefs into daily life
americanmeditation.org • Tel. (518) 674-8714
Taught by
Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev) The AMI MEDITATION Foundation Course was developed and is taught live on Zoom by Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev). Leonard is a noted educator, philosopher, Yoga scientist and founder of The American Meditation Institute. He is the author of The Heart and Science of Yoga® and the mind/body medicine journal, Transformation. He is a direct disciple of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. Leonard’s lectures are enlivened by his inspiring enthusiasm, vast experience, humor and clear teaching style. He has taught at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The New York Times Yoga Forum, Kaiser-Permanente and the U. S. Military Academy at West Point.
A MI MEDITATION: Case Study Results In 2008, AMI conducted a retrospective case study of participants who completed Leonard Perlmutter’s AMI MEDITATION Heart and Science of Yoga ® Self-Care Program. The findings included these positive, life-enhancing, health-promoting changes: • Significant reductions in stress and fear • Improved energy levels • Reduced cholesterol levels • Decreased anxiety and depression • Increased creative capacity • Diminished or extinguished • Lowered blood pressure • Diminishment of migraine headaches acute and chronic pain • Lowered heart rate • Decreases irritable bowel symptoms • Weight loss • Improved restorative sleep • Enhanced happiness and optimism • Increased breathing capacity
FOUNDATION COURSE Schedule and Accreditation
Medical Accreditation PHYSICIAN ACCREDITATION (18 CMEs) americanmeditation.org/physician-cme This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Albany Medical College and The American Meditation Institute. Albany Medical College is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Albany Medical College designates this Live activity for a maximum of 18 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
UPCOMING CLASSES Live and Interactive
On ZOOM with
Leonard Perlmutter Founder of the American Meditation Institute
Sep 11-Oct 16
Saturday Afternoon
NURSING CONTINUING EDUCATION (15 contact hours)
1:30 -3:30pm ET, $595.
americanmeditation.org/nursing-continuing-education
Oct 30-Dec 4
This activity has been submitted to the Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses, Inc., for approval to award contact hours. Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses, Inc. is accredited as an approver of continuing nursing education by the AmericanNurses Credentialing Center's COA.
Registration Includes: Lifelong support, a 20-minute digital Guided Meditation, a copy of The Physiology of Easy-Gentle Yoga, and a subscription to AMI’s Transformation journal.
(6 WKS)
Saturday Afternoon
1:30-3:30pm ET, $595. (6 WKS) Required Texts available at AMI Bookstore: The Heart and Science of Yoga ® The Art of Joyful Living Physicians $895; PAs, NPs: $795; RNs: $695
HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE Call us to discuss how your Health Insurance plan might cover this program.
Endorsed by Dean Ornish MD, Bernie Siegel MD, Larry Dossey MD, Dr. Oz 3
americanmeditation.org • Tel. (518) 674-8714
CALENDAR
MAKING THE BEST CHOICES
10 Indispensable Keys for Inspired Decision-Making Leonard (Ram Lev) and Jenness Perlmutter
FREE: EVERY SUNDAY GUIDED MEDITATION & SATSANG
LIVE on ZOOM • Sundays 9:30-11:00am ET with Leonard (Ram Lev) & Jenness LINK IS ON THE WEBSITE HOME PAGE
SEPTEMBER 2021 SEP 11 - OCT 16: AMI MEDITATION see p. 2-3 Sat. Afternoons, 1:30-3:30 PM ET (6 wks) Live on ZOOM
SEP 20 - OCT 25: GITA/YOGA PSYCHOLOGY see p. 5 Mon. Nights, 6:30 - 8:30 PM ET (6 wks) Live on ZOOM
SEP 25 & OCT 2: YOGA SCIENCE LAB
OCTOBER 2021 see p.4
Thurs. Nights, 6:30 - 8:30 PM ET (3 wks) Live on ZOOM
OCT 30 - DEC 4: AMI MEDITATION see p. 2-3 Sat. Afternoons, 1:30-3:30 PM ET (6 wks) Live on ZOOM
NOVEMBER 2021 NOV 1 - DEC 6: GITA/YOGA PSYCHOLOGY see p. 5 Mon. Nights, 6:30 - 8:30 PM ET (6 wks) Live on ZOOM
NOV 13 & 20: YOGA SCIENCE LAB
see p. 5 Live on ZOOM
Sat. Mornings, 10:30AM-12:30PM ET (2 wks)
American Meditation Institute
Bringing Yoga Science to Life
September - October, 2021 • Vol. XXV No. 1 ©2021 60 Garner Road, Averill Park, NY 12018
americanmeditation.org \ Tel. (518) 674-8714 ami@americanmeditation.org AMI is a tax exempt, non-profit 501(c)3 educational organization. Donations are fully tax deductible.
4
THURSDAY NIGHTS, 6:30 - 8:30PM ET $125 (3 WKS) OCT 21 - NOV 4 LIVE ON ZOOM
see p. 5
Sat. Mornings, 10:30AM-12:30PM ET (2 wks) Live on ZOOM
OCT 21- NOV 4: BEST CHOICES
Level II : This course offers 10 practical guidelines for better decision-making. Known as the Yamas and Niyamas, these tools will help you reliably access your own intuitive wisdom to resolve every issue skillfully. These time-honored guidelines will teach you how to recognize emotional triggers in a variety of relationships, and transform the contractive power of the unhelpful, stress-provoking, negative emotions and habits into an expansive, creative and dynamic force. Real-life issues will be examined, including home, family, friends, work, recreation and death. This course is highly recommended for all students.
ADVANCED TANTRIC HEALING “Yoga Nidra” Practices To Benefit Mind and Body Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev) –– AMI Founder
LEVEL II: This advanced two-week course provides important instruction on employing the subtle energy healing of Tantra, a system of powerfully effective tools for self-care and stress management. Each week you will be taught new skills that reduce the effects of stress, illness and physical exhaustion by purifying the mind and body. These deeply therapeutic practices minimize tension, facilitate energy flow, calm and train the mind, awaken creativity, enhance memory and retard the aging and disease processes by boosting the body’s innate healing wisdom. This course will provide complete instruction in the practices of yoga nidra, shitali karana, shavayatra, and tantric visualization. SATURDAY AFTERNOON, 1:30 - 3:30PM ET $125 (2 WKS) DEC 11 & 18 LIVE ON ZOOM This class is open to the general public and recommended for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
AMI Classes for September - October 2021
Ne w ! YOGA SCIENCE LAB How to Practice Meditation-in-Action Valerie Chakedis, Mary Holloway MT Prerequisite: Yoga Science Foundation Course
LEVEL II: In AMI’s Foundation Course, you learned that your thoughts are your most valuable asset. The Yoga Science Lab will help you examine your thoughts and expand your ability to focus your attention. The techniques learned in seated AMI Meditation are applied in every duty and responsibility throughout the day. This process is called Meditation-in-Action. As you experiment with the Truth reflected by your Conscience, you’ll develop decision-making skills that will enhance your confidence in all relationships. As you have already learned, to experience real freedom you must be centered in the present moment, know who you are, and follow your Inner Wisdom. Yoga Science Lab can help you achieve that freedom! SATURDAY MORNINGS, 10:30AM -12:30 PM ET, $75. SEP 25 & OCT 2; NOV 13 & 20 (2 WKS) LIVE ON ZOOM
YOGA PSYCHOLOGY BHAGAVAD GITA STUDY Leonard (Ram Lev) and Jenness Perlmutter LEVEL II: In continuous six week installments this course presents the profound teachings of the Bhagavad Gita as a handbook on the science of life and the art of living. If you are seeking a manual or guide for the supreme task of living well in the world today, this ongoing study will provide you practical wisdom, meaning and purpose for your life. Each week Leonard and Jenness will teach you how to reduce stress and confidently enhance your health and creative abilities, while providing you a fresh, positive perspective on all your family and business relationships.
Available on ZOOM As with all Zoom classes, you can attend this course from your own home or anywhere in the world.
MONDAY NIGHTS, 6:30 - 8:30 PM ET, $150. (6 WKS) SEP 20 - OCT 25; NOV 1 - DEC 6 LIVE ON ZOOM
What Physicians Say About AMI’s
FOUNDATION COURSE “The AMI Foundation Course literally changed the direction of my career as a physician. Practicing the tools that I learned in the course has transformed my work as a physician and helped me eliminate the burnout I was experiencing. I am practicing as a lifestyle medicine physician and am much happier in my work. The tools are practical and help me to serve my patients better. Physicians! I urge you to prescribe this course to yourself so that you too can rid yourselves of burnout and frustration and create a happier, healthier life and career.” Kristin Kaelber, MD, PhD, FAAP, FACP Internist and Pediatrician 5
Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev) AN INTERVIEW & PREVIEW OF HIS NEW BOOK 1. What, exactly, is the Conscience? To some extent, we’re all familiar with the Conscience––it’s that quiet voice inside that guides us to say the right, true, and kind word; to do what’s to be done and what’s NOT to be done––no matter what the circumstance or relationship we’re facing. The Conscience is our link to our own inner wisdom, and we know how we feel when we follow the wisdom of the Conscience, and we know how we feel when we don’t. 2. Why is it so hard to follow its advice? I referred to the Conscience as that quiet inner voice of wisdom that guides us, but that is precisely the challenge––the voice of the Conscience can be easily drowned out by voices that are much louder and more insistent. At some time in our lives many of us have noticed that we seem to have different voices in our mind. Let’s take an easy example: say you’re driving down the highway to visit family, and you see the golden arches. You’re hungry, and you’re two hours from your destination. Can you make it without stopping? Of course. But the senses are 6
clamoring for some instant gratification–– even though you know a delicious and more nutritious meal is waiting for you. You’ve already been driving for a couple of hours, and as your mouth starts to water at the thought of a Big Mac you suddenly find yourself in line at the drive-thru. In this example, the quiet voice of the Conscience has been overwhelmed by the more insistent voices of your taste buds, your unconscious habit patterns, and the ego, which is always eager to experience pleasure. 3. Where does the Conscience get its wisdom? Twenty-four hours a day and 365 days of the year the Conscience operates as a mirror. Unlike the minds of all other animals, the human Conscience has the unique ability to reflect the limitless, intuitive wisdom from the Super Conscious Mind. Even though most of us have never heard of the Super Conscious portion of the mind, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It’s the same portion of the mind Albert Einstein accessed to see mathematical equations, and Paul McCartney accesses to hear beautiful melodies. This
doesn’t mean you or I will become physicists or songwriters, but it does mean that the Conscience provides us the key to unlock the limitless wisdom, creativity and love needed to solve all of life’s challenges. But here’s the rub: if we don’t consciously rely on the Conscience every day, its reflective quality becomes compromised. In that handicapped condition, Your Conscience will not be able to reflect the perfect Super Conscious Wisdom that exists within each one of us. Instead, it will only be able to rubber stamp the limited perspectives of other mind functions––and that prospect is a dangerous gamble. 4. What are the Four Functions of the Mind? The Conscience is one of the Four Functions, and the other three are the Ego, the Senses, and Unconscious Mind. The Ego, which is hard-wired to the reptilian brain, is concerned only with selfpreservation. And it started its work the moment we arrived on the planet Earth–– when, as babies, we began crying out for food to sustain us. The Ego always sees everything in black and white terms––such as “This is good,” “That is bad,” “This is pleasant” “That is unpleasant.” The Senses and our capacity for logic, are primarily concerned with gathering information from the external world through sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. The Unconscious Mind is like a storehouse of old habits and memories that are sometimes helpful and sometimes unhelpful. Your Conscience is the only function of the mind that can make a decision of what’s to be done and what’s not to be done. Therefore, in every relationship our practical, spiritual work is to “parent” the Ego, Senses and Unconscious by educating and encouraging them to support Your Conscience consistently. When that happens, and we increasingly experiment with coordinating the Four Functions of the Mind in this manner, we (as well as our Ego, Senses and Unconscious Mind) will begin to feel better: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Why? Because Your Conscience will be making the decisions based on Super Conscious Wisdom, rather than just deferring to the loudest, most insistent voice.
5. Where does this framework come from? This framework comes from the 6,000 year old tradition of Yoga Science. Countless women and men have conducted experiments with the mind in a quest to lead happier, more fulfilling lives, and have benefitted from heeding the voice of the Conscience as it reflects divine wisdom. This work was recorded in all sacred texts of the world’s religions, including the Torah, the Koran, New Testament, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, the Buddha’s Dhammapada, and much later in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. These ancient texts have so much to teach us today––so much that is relevant to our modern, everyday chaotic lives––especially now, as we’re bombarded with the never-ending flow of information delivered by technology in the form of our mobile devices. 6. Do you have to believe in God to trust Your Conscience? The short answer is no. The longer answer is that as we begin to experiment with trusting the Conscience, we become more attuned to seeing the Divine everywhere we look. But belief is not a prerequisite! Even if we don’t believe in God, we always know what the kinder choice is when faced with a tricky decision, provided that we slow down and quiet the mind enough to listen for that soft whisper of the Conscience. Then, we have to dig deep to find the will power to follow through on what the Conscience advises us to do. None of this, however, requires a belief in any of humanity’s concepts of God. 7. What is the Law of Karma, and why are thoughts so important to it? I’m glad you asked. Let’s start with the Law of Karma. The Law of Karma states that every action results in a consequence. It is akin to Newton’s 3rd law of motion––that every action causes an equal reaction. But think for a moment about what causes an action––any action––in the first place. Before any action can take place, there must first be a thought. I cannot even move my arm without first thinking about moving my arm. I cannot shut the door without first thinking about shutting the door. When we consider that every action begins with a 7
thought, it becomes clear that it is, in fact, our thoughts that bring about consequences. I call this the mechanics behind the Law of Karma, and it’s why learning to control our thoughts is so important. 8. You say there are only two kinds of thoughts. Can you describe them? Every one of the 40-60,000 thoughts we think every day falls into one of two categories. I’m going to use the Sanskrit words here, because we don’t have equivalent concepts in English. The preya is any thought that conflicts with the Super Conscious Wisdom reflected by the Conscience. And the preya generally appears to lead to passing pleasure. Preya is often the familiar, comfortable choice. In the realm of food it might be a second jelly donut. In terms of exercise, it is couch surfing. The second category of thought is the shreya. The shreya is any thought that is in harmony with the Super Conscious Wisdom that’s reflected by the Conscience, and it leads to lasting joy and our highest and greatest good. 9. Does the Conscience really always know the difference? To answer that question, it’s critically important to first remind ourselves that the Conscience is part of our mental functioning that has the potential to know and to communicate to our Conscious Mind whether a particular thought is a preya or a shreya. In other words, when the Ego, the Senses and the Unconscious Mind are coordinated with the Conscience, the Conscience can definitely reflect Super Conscious Wisdom, which lets us know which thoughts lead only to momentary gratification, and which thoughts make it possible for us to fulfill the purpose of our lives––without pain or misery. 10. What kinds of problems can be solved by relying on the Conscience? Before I address this question, let’s recognize that many words in our English language, such as “problem,” can trigger us in unfortunate ways. The word “problem” carries with it a heavy, onerous weight that immediately diminishes our creativity. I prefer to use the word situation. To me, the word “situation” feels more optimistic and doable. 8
With that one word change, let’s revisit your question: What kinds of situations can be solved by relying on the Conscience? Every situation exists in the context of a relationship. It could be a relationship with our family members, friends, colleagues, even strangers. It might be our relationship with food, or our relationship with difficult emotions. The more we experiment with relying on the Conscience to help us distinguish preya from shreya, we will increasingly respond more skillfully, which in turn, resolves inner mental conflict. And when inner conflict is resolved outer conflict becomes more easily and creatively resolved. Personal challenges like anger, depression, fear, anxiety and stress––and global situations like racism, climate change, and moral decline––can all be solved by relying on the Conscience. 11. Can you give us an example of an easy experiment we can try? There is a chapter in YOUR CONSCIENCE called “Where to Start if You Don’t Know Where to Start” because I recognize that it’s one thing to intellectually understand these concepts, but quite another to actually change your life based on that understanding. Yet the only way to realize the benefits of relying on the Conscience is to experiment with it yourself. As I tell all my students: From your perspective, everything I say should be considered hearsay and is not to be accepted on blind faith. Skepticism can be a healthy asset. The only thing I do ask is that you experiment with what I offer and experience the truth for yourself. So in the “Where to Start” chapter, I offer 10 simple experiments for the true beginner––here’s one: make your bed in the morning. This small act has an important impact throughout day, up to and including when it is time to go to bed again. And here’s the good news––every time you use your Conscience to choose the shreya (lasting joy) over the preya (passing pleasure) you build up your will power for the next time you have to make a choice. 12. What about a more challenging example? For many of us, one of the most rewarding “fields of action” is to experiment with using
the Conscience to determine the food that we eat every day. Food is necessary for survival, and yet it’s often based on entertainment and cultural or familial pressures. In my book, YOUR CONSCIENCE, I devote several pages to food experiments that can benefit almost everyone––from limiting sugar and gluten, to drinking 6-8 cups of plain hot water in order to clean the urinary system, to chewing your food well and leaving some room in the stomach at the end of a meal. It’s always important to remember to start small. We should not make changes too quickly. So I always advise my students: if you can’t give up a whole cookie, try giving up a half or a quarter of a cookie and see how the experiment made you feel physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. 13. What does one-pointed attention mean? The analogy of the soaker hose can be helpful here. You may be familiar with a soaker hose used for irrigation––it’s a garden hose with many small holes to allow water to seep out along the entire length of the hose. You can think of your attention in that same way. So often our attention is “leaking” out over the course of a day as we attend to multiple duties at once: checking our social media feed, running an errand, talking on the phone, driving. Over days and weeks and years, our ability to focus on the task at hand becomes weaker, just as there is very little water pressure at the far end of the soaker hose. But if you imagine wrapping the hose with duct tape, it’s easy to see that the pressure increases, making a steady flow of water available to do what needs to be done. So it is with our attention––but only when we learn to focus our attention completely on what’s to be done, which I call “monotasking,” as opposed to multitasking, which is impossible. By tuning out distractions, more of our creative energy is available to meet whatever challenge is presented. 14. Isn’t it exhausting to rely on the Conscience all the time? Quite the contrary, actually. In the beginning it’s a little bit like learning how to drive. Do you remember when you were 16, and driving the family car for the first time? How do I brake slowly, when should I use the turn
signal, how far do I turn the wheel to the left and right, how hard do I step on the gas? But over time, these individual tasks became second nature, and driving became enjoyable and safe. Learning to rely on the Conscience is similar––with one important difference. Each time I successfully used the quiet voice of the Conscience, I felt better. I discovered I had more energy and creativity for a variety of challenging situations. And to my surprise, I also felt I had extra will power to easily do what was to be done, and not do what was not to be done. But as I cautioned earlier––don’t take my word or experience as gospel. Read the book, try the experiments and experience the benefits yourself. Then increasingly, you’ll gain more and more selfconfidence in your own your capacity to deal with anything. 15. Do you ever let loose and have fun? Absolutely! Life is to be enjoyed! And the good news is that Your Conscience knows this too. If you are having dinner with a friend, and your friend offers you a slice of her homemade apple pie, your favorite, Your Conscience might very well tell you, “go ahead, bon appetite!––without any guilt!” But, if the friend then offers you a second piece, Your Conscience would probably protect your health and well being by suggesting that you take a pass on the additional serving. Through those kinds of experiences, you come to know that Your Conscience is a trusted, loving friend––not some old curmudgeon always trying to take the joy out of your life. 16. What does “ahimsa” mean? The short answer is, ahimsa means noninjury, non-harming and non-violence in thought, word and deed. Ahimsa is the highest principle of Yoga Science, and it’s critically important to remember that ahimsa must be practiced toward yourself as well as others. On a very practical level, when we actually consider doing no harm or injury to ourselves (as well as to others), we learn how to love ourselves, how to be compassionate and forgiving with ourselves. 17. What is the Bridge of Yoga? Every human being is a citizen of two 9
worlds. We are essentially spirit (eternal consciousness, wisdom, bliss and fullness) having a human experience through a mindbody-sense complex. In order to experience fulfillment in life, it’s critically important that we learn to unite the two worlds––the Outer World of action and consequence, and the Inner World of Super Conscious Wisdom, Truth and fullness. The Bridge of Yoga is our philosophical and scientific connection between the Inner and Outer worlds in which we live. Each time you use the Bridge of Yoga, it encourages you to base your outer actions on the inner wisdom reflected by Your Conscience. The Bridge of Yoga is especially helpful when our emotional buttons are pushed. For example: you’re driving to work on the highway at 60 miles an hour, and another driver mindlessly cuts you off in traffic, forcing you to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. Your mind is filled with intense anger and thoughts of revenge that poison the body. In this circumstance, and in countless others during the day, The Bridge of Yoga can be a very useful and practical tool for knowing
which thoughts, desires and emotions are to be served, and which are not. Just being consciously aware of The Bridge of Yoga as a resource is an empowering first step. 18. Why should people listen to what you say in your new book or in this interview? I never ask people to believe anything I say about the Conscience, or any other spiritual matters. I tell interested individuals to be skeptical of what they hear from me and what they read in my books, and to consider what they do receive as mere hearsay and suggestion. Then, I generally tell them that if they’re inspired and energized by what they’ve learned, it’s time to turn their own mind-body-sense complex into their personal scientific laboratory and actively experiment with what they’ve learned. I invite you also, to test the knowledge I have shared. Only then will you know, and know that you know, that when you rely on Your Conscience as your guide, you already have everything you need to create a joyful, creative, healthy, and rewarding life.
FREE Webinar Conversations
Leonard (Ram Lev)
Mark Pettus MD
Maheima Anand
Bernie Siegel MD
Kristin Kaelber MD
Anita Stotts MD
To celebrate the September 7th release of YOUR CONSCIENCE, we are pleased to announce a series of FREE Webinars featuring endorsers of the book and long-time AMI students. In these one-hour conversations, Leonard will engage with a guest on a unique aspect of the Conscience. Time will be allotted for audience Q&A. Tune in often to deepen your understanding about how a reliance on Your Conscience can bring happiness and fulfillment to ALL aspects of your life. It can also be a rewarding opportunity to share your own personal experiences of relying on the creative gifts of Your Conscience. • Thursday, September 9, 7:00pm ET: Mark Pettus MD: "DNA is NOT destiny - Use Your Conscience to Improve Your Wellbeing" • Wednesday, September 22, 10:30am ET: Mahiema Anand, Filmmaker: "Use Your Conscience to Bring Greater Creativity Into Your World" • Sunday, October 3, 3:00pm ET: Bernie Siegel MD: "Use Your Conscience and Love to Enhance Your Life" • Thursday, November 18, 7:00pm ET: Kristin Kaelber MD and Anita Burock-Stotts MD: "Use Your Conscience for Better Overall Health” 10
3rd Annual National Conscience Month
ESSAY CONTEST For ALL High School Seniors $2,000. SCHOLARSHIP
January 2022 will mark the 3rd Annual observance of National Conscience Month. Throughout the month Americans from all walks of life will be imagining new ways to celebrate the benefits of using their Conscience to guide their thoughts, words and deeds. Here’s a special opportunity for high school seniors across the nation! You’re now invited to participate in a unique and creative way––by writing a short essay about using the Conscience. Think of a real situation in your life––or create an imaginary scenario––in which you allowed (or chose not to allow) your Conscience to guide your thoughts, words and actions. What were the results? Were there benefits? Or unexpected consequences? What did you learn from this experience?
One talented student will receive a $2,000. scholarship, awarded for an original essay of 1,000 words or less. Submission Instructions: No membership or purchase of any kind is required to take part in the National Conscience Month Essay Contest. Essay submissions should be sent by email to ami@americanmeditation.org. Submissions should be sent as a PDF attachment. Submissions must be received no later than Friday, January 28, 2022. The contest winner will be notified by email. Submissions may be featured by the American Meditation Institute either online or in print in connection with National Conscience Month programming and promotions, and the right to reproduce submissions is reserved by AMI and its sponsors.
For complete information visit: ConscienceMonth.org. E-mail essays to: ami@americanmeditation.org with name, address, telephone number and the name of your high school. 11
The American Meditation Institute
25th Annual Appeal–2021-2022 Because of COVID-19 We Need Your Help to Reach our Goal of $150,000
We urge you to thoughtfully consider the value AMI has brought to your life, and to give generously to help us recover from the financial damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand that you too may be suffering financially, yet we must count on you to help us achieve our goal of $150,000. No gift is too big or too small, and we thank you sincerely for your love and support. Leonard (Ram Lev) and Jenness
Call (518) 674-8714 or Donate Online at:
americanmeditation.org/annual-appeal
Can a Plant-Based Diet Lower the Severity of COVID Infection by
73%?
By Jenness Perlmutter In case you needed just one more good reason to do it, here it is: An encouraging study now suggests that cleaning up your diet can make it far less likely that you’ll become seriously ill if you should contract COVID-19. The severity of your symptoms is likely to be milder than those experienced in the majority of cases––thanks to your wise eating habits. Information examined in a recent study published in “BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health,” appears to validate an existing hypothesis. It reports promising evidence of a plant-based diet’s positive influence in cases of active COVID infection, strongly suggesting that certain food choices may indeed limit symptom severity. Several studies have hypothesized that
dietary habits might play an important role in COVID-19 infection, the severity of its symptoms, and the duration of illness. However, no previous studies have investigated the association between specific dietary patterns and COVID-19. In this new study, 2,884 healthcare workers from six countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and USA), who had high rates of exposure to COVID-19 patients, completed a web-based survey from July 17 to September 25, 2020. More than 70% of the study participants were men, and almost 95% were physicians. It is possible that the study population was high in men because they may be more likely to be in a predetermined high-risk medical specialty and practice setting. 13
Participants provided information on demographic characteristics, dietary information, and COVID-19 outcomes. During the time span of the study, there were 568 COVID-19 cases and 2316 controls. Among the 568 COVID cases, 138 individuals had moderate-to-severe COVID-19 severity, but an impressive 430 individuals had “verymild to mild COVID-19 severity.” Those who reported following ‘plantbased diets’ or ‘pescatarian diets’ (consuming fish, but no other meats) had 73% (in those on a plant-based diet) and 59% (in those on a pescatarian diet) lower odds of moderate-to-severe COVID-19 symptoms, compared with participants who did not follow those diets. These conclusions, based on the experiences of nearly 3,000 health care workers in six countries, may indicate that plant-based diets (and pescatarian diets) contributed to positive outcomes in cases among individuals with substantial exposure to COVID-19 patients, but the limitations of the study must also be considered. Self-Reporting and Small Samples First, it’s important to underline the fact that reported diet type didn’t influence the initial risk of contracting COVID-19. The BMJ study isn’t suggesting that diet changes the risk of getting infected. Nor did it find links between diet type and length of illness. Rather, the study only suggests that there’s a link between diet and the specific risk of developing “moderate to severe symptoms.” It’s also important to consider the actual number of people involved. Less than 3,000 health professionals took part, spread across six western countries, and only 138 developed moderate-to-severe disease. As each person placed their diet into one of 11 categories, this left a very small number eating certain types of diet, and then even smaller numbers getting seriously ill. This meant, for instance, that fish eaters had to be grouped together with vegetarians and vegans to produce meaningful results. In the end only 41 vegetarians/vegans contracted COVID-19 and only 5 fish eaters got the disease. Of these, just a handful went on to develop moderate-to-severe COVID-19. 14
Working with such small numbers increases the risk of falsely identifying a relationship between factors when there isn’t one – what statisticians call a “type 1 error”. When it comes to trying to determine the best diet for protecting against COVID19, the truth is we don’t have enough quality data – even with the results of this study, which are a small data set and only observational. A further issue is that the study didn’t look at the quality of people’s diets by assessing which foods they actually ate. This is another reason why it should be received with caution. Self-declared diet types or food questionnaires may not capture information on the variety and type of foods eaten – for instance, missing details about how much fresh or processed food someone eats, how meals are eaten and with whom. And it’s well known that self-reported data on what people eat is notoriously inaccurate. There’s yet another problem with studies of this type. It’s observational only, so can only suggest theories about what is happening, rather than any causality of diet over the effects of COVID-19. There is also the problem that the diet people say they consume may not be what they actually eat. A questionnaire was used to find out what foods people ate specifically, but responses to this were also self-reported. That questionnaire had only 47 questions, so subtle but influential differences in people’s diets may have gone unnoticed. After all, the foods available in the US do differ from those available in Spain, France, Italy, the UK and Germany. So What Does All This Tell Us? When it comes to trying to determine what exactly is the best diet for protecting against COVID-19, the truth is we don’t have enough quality data – even with the results of this study. But we do know, from this and from more general studies, that our immune systems can be strengthened by a wellrounded, plant-based diet. It’s obvious that whatever name you call your diet is far less important than what you actually eat. Just because a diet is “vegetarian” doesn’t automatically make it
healthy. More specific criteria than merely “vegetarian” are required in choosing a balanced diet that supports optimal health and strong immune function. From the limited information that this study provides, we learn that in these particular cases, diets that excluded most types of flesh were associated with milder symptoms of a highly transmissible and potentially lethal infection. That’s practical information that makes your eating habits more important than ever in the ongoing pandemic we’re experiencing. If you’re not already vaccinated, please make arrangements today to remedy that risky situation. The COVID-19 vaccine, like all vaccines, is admittedly less than 100%
effective, yet its effectiveness is high, and quite impressive. Add your own brilliant food choices to that vaccine immunity, and you’re helping to ensure your own continued good health—and that of all those around you. Even before the publication of this study, we as Yoga Scientists, understood that every choice we make, including every choice about what we eat, affects our overall health and well being. It comes as no surprise that foods influence the strength of our immune systems. This simple fact emphasizes the profound control we already have, and have always had––long before the appearance of COVID-19––over many of the elements that contribute to the state of our health.
“Regardless of challenging circumstances, YOUR CONSCIENCE can provide perfect guidance and imperishable comfort.” Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev)
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Memorizing is Not Enough! “As new Delta COVID cases surge and students return to classes, it’s more clear now than ever before that our educational system is in dire need of an historic transformation. Let’s face it, no matter when any of us graduated from high school, we were only educated to memorize and recite information, NOT how to tap into our inner wisdom as we make everyday choices, small and large. And the relentless onslaught of information from our mobile devices, cable outlets, emails, and social media feeds adds yet another layer of stress and anxiety we are not equipped to manage. At an alarming rate, bits of new data challenge our security and titillate the pleasure centers in our brains, driving each of us to make snap decisions that lead to fear, anger, disease and even death. As a result, we are ignorant of our own innate, brilliant human capacity to make the wise and kind decision in every circumstance. Our Conscience gives us the confidence to know what’s to be done and what’s not to be done, no matter what challenge we face. But our ignorance of the power of the Conscience blinds us and leads to suffering. Beginning today, every educational institution must start reimagining its curriculum so that every student at every level (from pre-K through graduate school) can learn how to use the infinite resources of the Conscience. This is not simply a good idea. The health, wealth and vitality of our entire society hangs in the balance.”
Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev)