Father Gabriel Mejia, the founder of 47 children’s shelters in Colombia, describes his experience learning the Transcendental Meditation technique with one word: happiness.
This video, published by the Transcendental Meditation channel, is an excerpt from “Saving the Disposable Ones” – a documentary about the heartbreaking streets of inner city Colombia, where Father Gabriel Mejia is transforming the lives of thousands of children.
“I meditate in a very simple way,” says Father Mejia, “without any effort.”
“When I learnt the Transcendental Meditation technique, I was very impressed. I would define it in one word, one phrase: happiness. You experience happiness and bliss when you practice the technique.
Catholic religion and Transcendental Meditation
Now operational in 52 centers across Colombia, the Hogares Claret Foundation set up by Father Mejia in 1984 has perfected its own therapeutic model with an international ISO certificate. At any given time, the centers serve more than 3,500 orphans, homeless and young drug addicts — offering them food, shelter, education, and Transcendental Meditation classes.“For me, as a Catholic priest, saying my prayers, celebrating communion, reading the Psalms, is all part of the structure of a religious life and a religious commitment. Transcendental Meditation does not take the place of the communion,” explains Father Mejia.
TM is a space for personal development that prepares me to experience the liturgy in its fullness.”
Transcendental Meditation is a scientific technique whose benefits have been validated through more than 350 research studies.
The practice of the technique does not involve contemplation about any religious or secular ideas, nor does it involve concentration, which is characteristic of some religious practices. It is simply a universal technology of consciousness that allows the active mind to settle to its silent self-referral state.
