February 19 2016, 09.11 AM IST || Pocket News Alert
Hindus are commending University of Minnesota Twin Cities (UMTC) for launching two meditation rooms on the campus for prayer, meditation, calming, spiritual-exercise, contemplation, concentration and self-reflection; which are reportedly accessible 24-hours a day.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that meditation rooms initiative, under which UMTC had reportedly planned 12 such facilities by fall, was a step in the positive direction.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that with the presence of meditation rooms, UMTC students would have a spiritually meaningful life in addition to material success after they graduated from here.
Rajan Zed thanked UMTC for recognizing the intersection of spirituality and education. Meditation rooms would be another feather in UMTC cap in making it a top class and wholesome higher education institution.
Zed urged all universities and colleges of USA and Canada to provide meditation rooms if they were serious in the all-round development of their students.
Rajan Zed further said that meditation had been valued in Hinduism for ages and Hindus had been traditionally practicing various forms/levels of meditation; including manana, pratyahara, dhayana, upasana, dharana and samadhi; to achieve oneness with Brahman. Hindus sought to train the attention inward—training the mind to focus internally and not wander.
Established in 1851 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota's flagship UMTC boasts of 25 Nobel laureates. It serves about 47,000 students with "we change lives" Mission. Eric W. Kaler is the President, while Dean E. Johnson is Regents Chair.
