(April 7, 2004) His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi delivered the keynote address to a national education conference in Los Angeles and declared that the problem-ridden field of education in every country is in dire need of new knowledge—the knowledge of total Natural Law—to bring fulfilment to every student and teacher, and to end the legacy of mistakes, failures, and suffering that plagues the individual and society.

Maharishi also announced that a Teacher Training Program for teachers of government and private organisations who are "fond of running schools and desirous of offering total knowledge" will be held in-residence at the 12 Time Zone Capitals of the Global Country of World Peace from June 5 to September 4. The teacher training is being offered by Maharishi Vedic Universities and Maharishi Vedic Medical Colleges (details at http://www.mgcwp.org/idealeducation).

Maharishi addressed the national conference on April 2 live via videoconference from the Capital of the Global Country of World Peace in Meru, Holland. Dr. John Hagelin, President of the US Peace Government and Minister of Science and Technology of the Global Country of World Peace, chaired the conference in Los Angeles. Participants included top scientists and educators, and parents and students.

Maharishi explained the objective of the new Teacher Training Program is to offer total knowledge first and then specific fields of knowledge as the constituents of total knowledge—in order to bring fulfilment to every student and also to the teachers. "Through the knowledge of total Natural Law, anyone can realise his full creative potential and rise above mistakes, failures and suffering," Maharishi said.

News from the national education conference spread quickly around the world and included extensive coverage on CNN Global News, CNN Medical News, CNN Headline News, CBS News, MSNBC News, and CTV News in Canada. In addition, there were hundreds of positive reports in newspapers, on local television and radio shows, and on the Internet, including Newsweek, USA Today, The New York Times, Newsday, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, Los Angeles Times, and Seattle Post Intelligencer, as well as top medical magazines, such WebMD, Health Day, and Medical News Today.

Maharishi will speak to the world press again during his next global news conferences TODAY and on April 8.

To prevent and solve the serious problems that grip the world, Maharishi said education must go beyond mere book learning. "Book learning produces degrees, such as a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D., that can be useful in gaining employment and a good salary—but not in gaining fulfilment. It is natural for a man to always want to know more and more—and that is why he will never be fulfilled with the partial knowledge offered by today’s education. Only gaining total knowledge will fulfil a man," Maharishi said.

For this, Maharishi said, Transcendental Meditation is essential in education. "Transcendental Meditation is a simple technique that allows the awareness to transcend boundaries and experience Transcendental Consciousness—the Constitution of the Universe—which silently administers the ever-expanding universe with perfect order and without problems and failures. This is the field of total creative intelligence—total knowledge and total capacity for action—and this is the only experience that will ever bring fulfilment to anyone," Maharishi said. "So parents, be kind to your children—and teachers, be kind to your students—and give them total knowledge and the experience of total creative intelligence within."

Maharishi also announced that Vedic universities, colleges, and schools are now being established in major cities in every country to offer total knowledge to students, adults, and retired people to raise every individual to enlightenment and to create a peaceful, prosperous world.

Maharishi concluded with a special message for every student. "Aspire for as much knowledge as possible as soon as possible. With more knowledge there will be more bliss. With total knowledge there will be total bliss. So go for total knowledge and you will never fail in your efforts or aspirations in life—and this is just the world we want to create for everyone born on earth. So let’s aspire for that. Let’s raise ourselves to enlightenment—and let’s create an enlightened world around us. And let’s do it quickly without delay," Maharishi said.