Huffington Magazine Issue 72 | Page 66

MEDITATION MAN The college crew at Swenson’s was the usual motley collection of hippies, straights and everything in between, recalls Roth. But one guy stood out: Peter Stevens. “He was like a quiet reflection pool amid the chaos,” recalls Roth, “and I was drawn to him.” “Peter was centered, energetic, super-smart, kind to all, easy-going, never agitated, with an ineffable calm about him,” Roth told The Huffington Post. He learned that Peter “meditated,” something that Roth said was a bit of a disconnect for him. “Meditation was not in my vocabulary.” But he was intrigued and curious, and went with Stevens to a class in TM, a meditative practice derived from the ancient Vedic tradition in India. After just one class, Roth was hooked. Today, Roth is the executive director of the David Lynch Foundation, where he has helped bring TM programs to more than 300,000 at-risk kids in 35 countries, as well as veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and women and girls who are survivors of domestic violence. He’s also the national director of the Center for Leadership Performance, which introduces the TM HUFFINGTON 10.27.13 program to business, industry and government organizations — and even some United Nations groups. Today, Roth’s student roster includes a lot of very recognizable names: Oprah, Russell Simmons, Russell Brand, Martin Scorsese, Mehmet Oz, Hugh Jackman and dozens of others. He’d be embarrassed to be Roth’s student roster includes Oprah, Russell Simmons, Russell Brand, Martin Scorsese, Mehmet Oz and Hugh Jackman. called “meditation teacher to the stars,” but such a description wouldn’t be far off. For the past 40 years, he has meditated twice a day no matter where he is, in places as discombobulat