 Members of the meditating community gathered on the Maharishi University of Management campus Tuesday evening for a memorial service in honor of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who passed away earlier in the day.
M.U.M. public affairs officer Ken Chawkin said he had never before seen so many people packed into the dome, and Fairfield Mayor Ed Malloy estimated roughly 1,000 members of the university faculty, staff and students and general community gathered for the event.
Those in attendance listened to comments made earlier in the day by university president Bevan Morris, a reflection on Maharishi's legacy by Craig Pearson, executive vice president of M.U.M., and a reading from spiritual texts.
As with the passing of anyone who was beloved, Pearson said it is a sad time for the university.
"There is definitely a feeling of great gratitude and appreciation toward Maharishi for everything he represents to practitioners of Transcendental Meditation," Malloy said. Because of Maharishi's pride in the university, the community has enjoyed the special benefits of direct contact with Maharishi through the years, he said.
During the few visits Maharishi made to Fairfield, Malloy said he was always very complimentary of the community, and he was happy the university had settled in Fairfield.
"We all feel so fortunate to be the recipients of such a tremendous legacy," Pearson said, adding that the knowledge Maharishi has brought to light will continue to grow and spread throughout the world.
"This has been the opportunity of a lifetime to place our service in the path of this very great goal," Pearson said. Like many others around the world, Pearson said it was an honor to work under Maharishi's inspiration and support his teachings.
As members of the meditating community reflect on Maharishi's legacy, Pearson said they also are inspired by the prospects for the future of the world.
Tonight members of the community will again gather on the campus to listen to Morris' reflections on Maharishi.
Maharishi has already been memorialized on campus with the erection of a Maharishi Tower of Invincibility, and Pearson said additional towers are being built in locations across the world. All the towers will create centers of coherence and will be surrounded educational campuses, he said.
M.U.M. will continue its mission under the leadership of a board of trustees, which has been in place since the university's founding. Pearson said the university is lucky to have a board of distinguished individuals to guide and support it.
Meanwhile, Maharishi's global legacy will live on under the guidance of several leaders personally trained by Maharishi to continue the work of his many organizations. Pearson said Maharishi has been training leaders during the last several years and continued leadership is very well in place.
Malloy believes Fairfield will continue to play a strong roll spreading Maharishi's knowledge.
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