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Scorsese: The Difference Meditation Made to My Life

Legendary film director Martin Scorsese has spoken out in support of a charity outreach to teach Transcendental Meditation to children and veterans suffering from traumatic stress, and revealed how practice of the technique has helped him in his own life and work.

The creator of Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Goodfellas told a recent benefit gala in support of the David Lynch Foundation in New York that he had been practising Transcendental Meditation for several years and that it had made a real difference.

“It’s difficult to describe the effect it’s had on my life. I can only mention maybe a few words: calm, clarity, a balance, and, at times, a recognition.”

Scorsese, whose new  documentary about George Harrison, Rooted in Peace, will be screened in the autumn, said he could only imagine the kind of stress that affected veterans,  but spoke of how practising Transcendental Meditation had altered his response to everyday anxiety triggers, and eased the stress of movie-making.

“Of course a lot of drama is projected onto the screens of our consciousness, our minds, day and night – patterns that you learn from childhood: intrigues, resentments, hatreds, and terrors.

“The most wrenching anxieties are those that come upon us and grab a hold. Anything can trigger them and we identify them as real because they are so immediate. The common response is to tough it out… in other words, to suffer.

“Now, I’ve been a firm believer in suffering all my life. My pictures are kind of volatile, and they certainly can attest to that. Yet, recently, I’ve learned that you may not have to suffer to make them as much. It may not be the way it’s supposed to be.”

Scorsese told the audience, who included fellow film director David Lynch and designer Donna Karan, that he wanted to offer his support and encouragement to the efforts of the David Lynch Foundation, which has already taught Transcendental Meditation to thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to tens of thousands of at-risk children and young people around the world.

“On this night, as you’re trying to raise the funds necessary to bring Transcendental Meditation to students, veterans, homeless men and women, native Americans, anyone suffering from strong stress, I want to thank you. I encourage all of you gathered here tonight to support this foundation.”

Video: Martin Scorsese Speaks about Transcendental Meditation

Read more about Martin Scorsese and the charity event.

 


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