Celebrating the 'New Age’

Press, 16 September 1976, Page 18

Celebrating the 'New Age’

A banquet in the great hall of the Christchurch Arts Centre, the sound of a harpsicord ringing in the rafters, celebrating the age of enlightenment. It sounds like a scene from a fairy tale, but this will take place in Christchurch next Tuesday. The invitation to celebrate the Age of Enlightenment comes from the head teacher of the transcendental meditators, His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of the World Government for the Age of Enlightenment, j He has decreed that the age has come through more meditation in the world. Teachers in all the world’s main cities will celebrate the age during the fourth equinox.

The teachers of this meditation say that the practice has its benefits, including the relief of stress, and consciousness raising.

Also, they say that if 1

per cent of a city’s population are meditators, the crime rate will fall. The United States has the most meditators. In 530 cities, where more than 1 per cent of the population are converts, their orderliness is contributing to a national move away from crime, they say.

A report in the Boston “Globe” in June, they say, supports them. They say the “Globe” reported that crime dropped 11 per cent in the cities in the year, and 29 per cent in rural areas. The crimes of violence reported nationally fell by 7 per cent, they say. The idea of this celebration, which will be officially opened by the M.P. for Avon (Mrs Mary Batchelor) is to bestow awards on nonmeditators who have contributed to enlightenment in Christchurch.

The golden scroll awards will be presented to Canon Bob Lowe, for the develop-

ment of consciousness; Mr Tony Kunowski, the leader of the Values Party, for cultural integrity and world harmony, and Mr P. J. Skellerup, for prosperity and progress.

Mr John Knowles, the news editor of TVI in Christchurch, will receive an award for information and inspiration, and awards for health and immortality will be presented to two members of the Aged Peoples’ Welfare Council, Mrs D. J. Wells and Mrs W. H. Larcombe. An award will be made for research and develop■ment, but the name of the irecipent has yet to be [announced. | The teachers will also hold [two open days at their building in the Arts Centre block, the old site of the university. They will be on hand to discuss meditation, and for the displays from 9 a m. to 7 p.m. on the two days after the dinner.