The founder of Maharishi University of Management was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a Vedic sage. His message was that the purpose of life is the expansion of happiness, and that every human being can effortlessly unfold his or her infinite potential. The University got its institutional start in 1973. However, its origins began much earlier.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Consciousness Based Education
In 1955, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (Maharishi) began teaching the Transcendental Meditation technique in his native India. Within the next decade he began traveling around the world teaching Transcendental Meditation ( TM ), and training people how to teach TM.
As people’s experience with meditation deepened, Maharishi started offering insights into the dynamics of meditation and the experience of consciousness. He did this through lectures, publications, and in-residence courses.
Current campus, Maharishi University of Management
In 1971 his commentaries came together in the development of a new science to help people systematically understand consciousness. This was called the Science of Creative Intelligence (SCI). The intention of SCI was to make all fields of study meaningful to the student by studying the common, underlying principles.
Initially, SCI was taught as a supplementary class on college campuses. However, Maharishi envisioned a university where the entire curriculum incorporated the study of consciousness.
In 1973, Maharishi International University (MIU) fulfilled this vision, offering courses in Santa Barbara, California.
Iowa
MIU students arriving to the new campus in Fairfield, Iowa
MIU quickly outgrew its small rented facility on the coast of California, and began the search for a full college campus with laboratories, libraries, galleries, cafeterias, and residence halls.
After looking all across the U.S., university administrators settled on the 100 million square foot campus of the closed Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa.
In 1974, the school relocated to the middle of the country and started rapidly expanding. Within the next few years MIU was accredited by the Higher Learning Commissions of the North Central Association and began offering its first PhD courses.
Maharishi University of Management
Aerial view of MUM campus
In 1995, MIU officially changed its name, emphasizing the practical value of studying consciousness along with traditional fields of academics. The university’s educational model is based on studying, understanding, and experiencing consciousness in order to enable a person to fully manage his or her own life.
What began as SCI has matured into Vedic Science. Now, all students at MUM take courses in Vedic Science and it is also offered as a B.A. or M.A. degree.
More history:
Peruse some more details about the founding and history of MUM, here.
Take a look at MUM’s founding vision and goals.
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Anna Bruen is a MUM alumnus who graduated with a degree in Sustainable Living. Anna is the resident blogger here at MUM. To learn more about Anna take a look at her introduction post. |
