Many undergraduates already spend their days listening to psychedelic tunes, watching strange films and trying to reach a transcendental plane. But now, thanks to an unlikely alliance between folk singer Donovan and film director David Lynch, all of the above will be on the curriculum.
The Invincible Donovan University will provide the traditional university subjects, but students will also undergo training in transcendental meditation - the technique practised by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and popularised by the Beatles. Donovan, whose hits include Hurdy Gurdy Man and Mellow Yellow, said he would open the university in either Glasgow or Edinburgh, bringing the hippy dream of world peace to his home country of Scotland.
The singer was joined by Lynch, an equally unlikely academic who directed films such as Blue Velvet and the television show Twin Peaks. The pair are part of a British tour to promote transcendental meditation, as a means of reducing violence, crime and stress in schools and colleges. "I know it sounds like an airy-fairy hippy dream to go on about '60s peace and love," said the singer, who was born Donovan Leitch in the Maryhill area of Glasgow. "But the world is ready for this now, it is clear this is the time."
Donovan claimed that the practice of transcendental meditation would enhance the learning experience. "It will be a normal university but will also be very, very different because of its potential that will be unfolding because of an extraordinary technique which I learnt when I was in India with the Beatles in 1968," he said. "It's called transcendental meditation and it has been applied for many years in different educational programmes with astounding results."
Lynch said he had practised the technique for more than 34 years.
He said through his foundation he had found children undertaking meditation achieve better qualifications at school, boost their creativity, particularly in relation to the arts, and are more productive.
Donovan said he would like to be involved with some teaching at the university, particularly in relation to music, but his role would mainly be within a steering group for the project. He added that he had met Scottish culture minister Linda Fabiani at the Scottish parliament to discuss his university.
Donovan said he believed using meditation could lead to total enlightenment which, if enough people experience it and practice, could lead to a more peaceful Scotland and even help to eradicate terrorism. The singer continues to perform at festivals and keeps up his contacts with India.
Donovan and Lynch were joined yesterday by quantum physicist John Hagelin and Dr Bevan Morris, president of the Maharishi University of Management in the United States.
