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By: Katherine Massopust

NEWARK – Uday Kumar, who is a trainer in Heartfulness Meditation offered a free meditation program at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Uday Kumar has been practicing Meditation for 14 years and is actively involved in training several students in the art and science of meditation. The Amboy Guardian asked Kumar some questions about the event and the importance of meditation.

Amboy Guardian: What made you interested in meditation?

Uday Kumar: I started meditating way back in college. That interest was from a perspective to be able to focus better. I’ve been on this journey twenty years now. Now, I train everyone to meditate. 

AG: What are the benefits of daily meditation?

UK: Why do you want to meditate? There are different answers. Mine was stress, looking for belief in self-realization. There are many reasons to start. To start for stress – you find peace. Why would you do something again and again if you get nothing back? It’s a journey towards inner peace. Meditation opens up external happiness, joy, and commitment. 

There’s a lot of scientific interest in meditation. In these studies, there is a correlation between the physical and mental benefits. At the Heartfullness Institute, there is ongoing research. Dr. Jayaram Thimmapuram, who works at the Wellspan Group spoke at the conference. (9/7/19 – The whole event is available on YouTube.) 

One major reason to meditate is burnout. We are able to find significant improvement with people who meditate with the study. There is longevity and wellness. We all want to live long and better. There was a study on what is called telomere. At the peaks of the caps of DNA strands, there is a large length of telomere. (They function to protect the ends of chromosomes from sticking to each other. They also protect genetic information during cell division because a short piece of each chromosome is lost every time DNA is replicated. Cells use a special enzyme called telomerase to keep dividing, which lengthens their telomeres. Source: Study.com) For those who meditate, there is a better quality of life. There is a clear link that the longer the telomere caps are means more concentration and self-worth. It is being measured by being empathic, compassionate, and becoming a better human being.

AG: When is the best time to meditate?

UK: Whenever you want to. We become better or worse by the strength of our habits. With meditation, you are able to create a habit. The science is the circadian rhythm (physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle). We want to use the natural cycle of your brain – morning is advisable. Some say meditate at a fixed time and stick to that time.

AG: In the information given, it states there have been 288 school shootings since 2009. How does meditation help students deal with the stress of this reality in schools today? 

UK: America is a living, thriving experiment in democracy. When human beings come together, good overcomes evil. We have challenges we face regularly. We have silent battles stemming from loneliness. It has the same effects on human body as 15 years of smoking. At Binghen University in New York, there was a study of old people with no social interaction and young generation where the human minds are unhappy. We all want to be happy. Can I be happy if I’m not at peace? Obviously not. First, I need to be at peace. Can I have a peace of mind if there are twenty different distractions? When I meditate, I focus on one problem (at a time) and manage my thoughts. We lost the ability to be at peace and focus. I need to regulate my mind and focus. Meditation is the gym work of my mind. If you want to be happy, you have to meditate. Your mind is focused because of peace. I’ll be happy. It’s not rocket science. If someone is nasty to me, I take the higher ground. Inner peace is what reflects on the outside. If society is peaceful, it creates more harmony. Violence goes down. If my heart is filled with love, I’ve elevated my conscious. Meditation goes up and violence goes down. 

AG: Do you suggest students meditate at the beginning of every school day?

UK: Yes. You need to create some quiet time. We tried meditation in some schools. I’ve seen benefits. We need to create the opportunity. It’s quiet time. 

AG: How do you teach uncooperative students meditation?

UK: Do you have to teach kids to eat ice cream? One needs to show the benefits. A child learns by osmosis. If I’m on my phone all day long, it doesn’t work. I can’t change anyone in the universe but myself. If I change myself, that changes my environment. 

AG: How did you become involved with the Heartfullness Institute?

UK: The Heartfullness Institute is one of volunteerism. It started in India. They are located in over 160 countries. The Meditation Center in New Jersey is in Monroe Township. In New Jersey, there are over 50 trainers can who offer 1:1 lessons. Volunteers drive the organization. Services are offered for free. You cannot sell peace of mind. 

For more information about Meditation, you can download the HeartsApp.