The Event: The David Lynch Foundation’s (DLF) annual benefit dinner and gala honored General (ret.) Stephen Rippe and Ken Falke, founder of Boulder Crest Retreat, with the DLF 2017 Resilient Warrior Awards. The evening featured musical entertainment from Grammy-Award-winning violinist Miri Ben-Ari, and a conversation with Tom Hanks and Mary-Louise Parker on the benefits and impact of the Transcendental Meditation technique. Proceeds from the event helped support the David Lynch Foundation’s Resilient Warrior Program which brings the TM technique to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and their families.

Operation Warrior Wellness: Operation Warrior Wellness (OWW) is a division of the David Lynch Foundation and offers the Transcendental Meditation-based Resilient Warrior Program, a simple, easy-to-learn, evidence-based approach to relieving symptoms of PTSD (including major depression) and developing greater resilience to stress.

Since its launch in 2010, the OWW initiative has partnered with leading veterans service organizations, army and marine bases, and VA medical centers across the country to teach the TM technique to veterans, active-duty personnel, and military families. OWW also partners with military colleges to create a new generation of more resilient officers.

The Technique: The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple, natural, effortless technique practiced 20 minutes twice each day while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. It is easy to learn and enjoyable to practice, and is not a religion, philosophy, or lifestyle. Over six million people have learned it — people of all ages, cultures, and religions — and over 380 published research studies have found that the TM technique markedly reduces stress, anxiety, and fatigue, and promotes balanced functioning of mind and body.