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 Linda Cloutier is a certified teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique in Ottawa, Canada. Before becoming a TM teacher she worked for 20 years with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), an organization that administered Canadian foreign aid programs in developing countries. She worked in the areas of program management,…

Having watched the “Mommy Wars” from the safe perspective of one who has no children of my own, I do wonder how moms these days keep up with their jobs, their marriages, their kids, staying fit and posting on Facebook every day. In a sometimes funny, sometimes poignant piece in…

What makes great literature great? Why do some short stories, plays and novels strike a universal chord and impart relevant and meaningful wisdom hundreds or even thousands of years later? According to a new book on literature and language, it all comes down to the consciousness of the writer. If…

I live in New York where recently I have been receiving a relentless flow of mail and email from the Women’s Equality Party. Speaking about gender inequality a few days ago, President Obama commented. ‘‘The idea that my daughters wouldn’t have the same opportunities as somebody’s sons, well that’s unacceptable.”…

A University that Develops the Full Potential of Students (Part three of a three-part series) Gail Connellee didn’t expect to go back to school in her 60s. She already had a BA in education and worked as a counselor. But when she heard about the opportunity to earn an MA…

I checked with Amy Ruff, BSN, RN, WOCN, to learn how the practice of the TM technique reduces the risk factors for, onset of, or difficulties that come along with the five top health concerns of women: heart disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis, depression, and autoimmune diseases. Janet Hoffman:  Health professionals…

I grew up in the era when families ate their evening meals together (think the Donna Reed Show and Leave It To Beaver). Intuitively, it makes sense that it’s good for kids to share the family meal as an anchor in the day. It turns out science backs up this…

The Story of Two Students (Part two of a three-part series) The word “education” comes from the Latin verb “educere” which means “to lead out.” For children in many parts of the world, an education is a way to lead their families from poverty to prosperity. In Thailand, education for…

The simple but remarkable fact about breast cancer is that two of its most significant risk factors are gender (being a woman) and aging. Not much can be done to undo those two phenomena. In 2014, more than 2.8 million U.S. women either currently or previously had breast cancer. But…

Acharn Yai (Aunampai Passakchai), Buddhist Nun, Talks About Meditation, Academics and Peace (Part one of a three-part series) I was deeply moved while writing two previous blog posts about the Dhammajarinee Witthaya School, which provides 500 at-risk girls in Thailand a free education. So when I took a short trip…