For those interested in the climate change debate I would like to recommend this US senate hearing… I think putting all of ones chips on “climate change” may be a serious mistake and back fire if it doesn’t transpire and really really damage the environment and society. The powers that be just want carbon trading and carbon taxes, of which won’t change anything. We need to promote the local and renewable energy supplies to increase the democratisation of energy, with the added benefit of reducing our need to get involved in the middle east…
http://www.tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2013030153#start=613&stop=5958

Last night, as I watched a BBC London evening news a report the on that Camden Junior School was to be turned into an Academy caught my eye. Now what particularly interested me in this news items, was in despite of a landslide response of 91% (494 out of 545) of parents voted for their preference for Camden Junior School to be taken over by Greenshaw High School, with the additional support of the local council leader Ruth Dombey and local MP Tom Brake, The Department for Education has chosen to ignore this consultation and award the Harris Foundation for sponsorship.

Councillor Ruth Dombey, leader of Sutton Council, said (1): “The council, MPs and everybody agreed Greenshaw was the best option.” and “So much for localism. People feel completely disempowered some parents worked incredibly hard on that campaign – what’s the point if the decision was made behind closed doors?”

Tom Brake, the MP for Carshalton and Wallington said(1): “I’m clearly very disappointed at the outcome when the community had expressed a very clear preference for the local sponsor Greenshaw. When there is more than one sponsor for a school I think it is completely wrong for the Department for Education to express a preference. It risks predetermining the outcome.”

Now why on earth would The Department for Education ignore the democratic voice of its people and favour the Harris Foundation???

Maybe, just maybe, the fact that Lord Philip Harris has been a key financial contributor to the Tory party (2) and is close pals with David Cameron, may have influenced the decision… The BBC forgot to mention that in their report…

While looking into Lord Harris, I came across this interesting article…http://antiacademies.org.uk/2012/03/harris-federation-spotlight-on-sponsors/

Ref (1): http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/education/educationnews/10613928.Camden_Junior_School_to_become_a_Harris_academy/?ref=rss

Ref (2): http://searchthemoney.com/profile/657/1473

 

Transcendental Meditation is the simplest of all meditations and can be learned by any one, of which I personally practice and would recommend to everyone.

Your age will determine which Mantra you should personally use. You should always use the same mantra, not changing it as you get older. The pronunciation of your mantra is not important, so say it how you feels right for you and it may change over time. There is no scientific research performed on if the mantra makes a difference, but you need to say something, so there is no harm in using the suggested ones.

Age	Mantra
0-11	Eng
12-13	Em
14-15	Enga
16-17	Ema
18-19	Aing
20-21	Aim
22-23	Ainga
24-25	Aima
26-29	Shiring
30-34	Shirim
35-39	Hiring
40-44	Hirim
45-49	Kiring
50-54	Kirim
55-59	Sham
60+	Shama

Before starting your meditation, ensure you are in a suitable environment where there are no disruptions or distractions. Turn off your phone and inform others that you are not to be disturbed.
Sit up comfortably, in an arm chair preferably. Ensure you are warm, using blanket if necessary. I wouldn’t recommend lying down as you are more likely to drift from meditation to a sleep state. Place a clock of which you can glance at without moving.

 

Following these simple steps

1. Take note of what time it is and close your eyes. For about 30 seconds let any thoughts fade, to start the process of clearing your mind. This does not need to be exactly 30 secs, so no need to open your eyes to check.
2. After approx 30 second has passed, start repeating your mantra over and over in your mind.
   Repeat your mantra at a comfortable pace, not too fast not too slow, whatever feels right for you. Ensure you are not to moving you tongue or lips and they are completely relaxed. As you continue repeating your mantra, slowly let go of the clear pronunciation so it becomes the notion of the word instead.
   As you continue repeating your mantra, everyday thoughts will arise and distract you. At some point you will find yourself no longer repeating your mantra. When you realise this, then resume your mantra again. This is a natural, continuous and positive process. You may follow a series of thoughts for many minutes before realising and resuming your mantra. This is natural to have these thoughts and calmly replacing them with your mantra will enable you to release them.
3. Continue this process until a total of 20 minutes have passed (Children under 18 yrs old should only perform for 1 min per year, e.g. a 12 yr old = 12 mins).
   Wait until you feel a full 20 minutes have passed, then slowly open your eyes to check. E.g. If only 10 minutes has passed, then you know what 10 mins of meditation feels like, so continue for the same time again. With regular practice you will become surprising accurate at knowing when 20 mins has passed.
   If you have gone over 20 minutes this ok.
4. Once 20 mins (or more) has passed, you should continuing sitting still with your eyes closed for a further 2 mins. But, instead of repeating your Mantra, simply let go of any thoughts that enter your mind, in an effort to keep it clear.

Thats it…

Perform this simple process morning and night, daily.

While I believe this information should be free, it may still be of benefit to go on one of the TM courses, as you will get the support you may require to make this a daily practice. This is no different to going to the gym, as you can’t expect to go once, get and remain fit, only regular practice will make the difference you are looking for. While the courses may seem expensive, if you can afford it they are good value, especially as the TM organisation put a lot of its money and resources in performing creditable scientific research.

 

Source of instructions: http://minet.org/mantras.html

I will be using this blog to help share my thoughts, ideas and experiences.  I may venture into politics, environmental, spiritual, ethics and pretty much whatever is going off in my life that I feel is worth sharing. A key motivation in creating this blog is to ensure the core of my personal online presents remains free (as in freedom) and my property and is not owned by the likes of facebook, google+, twitter, etc… I will be linking my posts on these 3, to reach those of you contained with your prison garden walls.

I also run my other blog at barkengmad.com which will focus on open source technology, business and anything geeky.