Doug Henning visits U.P.E.I.

Famous magician speaks on behalf of Natural Law Party

r. Doug Henning visited the Barn last

Wednesday, bringing a message of en-

lightenment through Transcendental Meditation to the Political Studies Association and other interested students. Dressed in a three- piece suit and carrying a brief-case, Henning described Transcendental Meditation in broad terms and using colourful metaphors. Henning likened the experience of T.M. to a voyage down the petals of a rose, proceeding through the cellular, molecular and atomic levels, and ending up in the realm of sub-atomic space, similar to intergalactic space but on a microcos- mic level. Mental coordination radiates from a person in contact with the unified field, the union of all energies at the sub-atomic level. The radiation can go through solid objects like walls as easily as do radio waves, and wherever it goes it causes people to exist in a more mentally cohesive manner and ‘‘enlivens the infinite organizational power of Natural Law’’. Ultimately, the result is reduced stress. The practice of T.M. brings people closer to what Henning called ‘ “Natural Law’’ . ‘“Natural Law’’ is the fundamental reasoning behind all the workings of a government that would be in place if the N.L.P. obtains power. The benefits of stress reduction is the N.L.P.’s main drawing card. According to Henning, because of re- duced stress, people will be more creative and governments can rely on people who are best suited to do a job rather than being influenced by interest groups and people appointed for the purposes of patronage. Henning likened the - country to a plant that is wilting. Traditional governments, he said, try a superficial approach

to create a healthy plant, painting the brown leaves green, perhaps. The N.L.P.’s methods, he claims, will water the plant at its roots and cause a real change for the better. Henning is a well-known magician who has performed all over the world, including appearances in sev- eral Broadway shows. He has also appeared on major television networks, including the C.B.C. Born in Winnipeg, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in the field of neurology at McMaster University. He obtained a doctoral degree at the Maharishi Institute. Henning said the genesis of the Natural Law Party in Canada occurred in Great Britain. Henning witnessed an election race between Labour and the Con- servatives in which many people were disillu- sioned, unwilling to vote for either party be-

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Beautiful hand knit Sweaters (Direct from Ecuador 100 % Wool and cotton and a full line of clothing from South America

Visit uss in the Conjederation Court Mal, University Avenue

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6/X-Press/October 21, 1993

‘LP's Doug Henning (left)

cause of their equally poor track records. It was then that a practitioner of T.M. decided to create a new political party based on Natural Law. Henning was recruited as a candidate in that election in order to ‘‘learn politics’’. Subse- quently, he returned home to Canada to join in the formation of the Canadian chapter of the Natural Law Party along with Hillsborough riding candidate Peter Cameron. The N.L.P. is currently the fourth largest party in this election with two hundred and thirty-one candidates. Henning said that rock stars and screen idols such as Burt Reynolds practice Transcendental Meditation. In response to a question about the enforcement of the practice of T.M., Henning said that because of the small numbers required to have an effect on the population as a whole, it would be relatively easy to find enough people with an interest in learning the tech- nique. He added that T.M. would be taught along with traditional skills in retraining pro- grammes for those who are currently unem- ployed. Addressing students in particular, Henning said that there will be student repre- sentation in the senate (the federal senate, he - pointed out, not university senates). Henning says the N.L.P. does not blame the government for the country’s ills. In fact, he personally likes the other candidates because they are sincerely concerned with the state of the country. He said, “*We can’t blame the government (for wanting to raise taxes) because of spiralling costs.’’ He

does not, however, agree with the cynicism he

said is displayed by the more traditional parties. Now more than ever, he said, we should have high ideals.

ED FOBES