THANK YOU DAVID LYNCH
WRITTEN BY HAL HEFNER
Image of David Lynch, courtesy of the David Lynch Foundation
On January 15th, 2025, the world lost one of its premier artistic legends in David Lynch. In his five decade career Lynch wore the hat of many creative titles as filmmaker, visual artist, musician and storyteller whose surreal way of seeing the world translated into unique creative inventions. To me he is a Nerd Horror legend for the way he not only shook up the world of horror but elevated it into a more evocative state of filmmaking. I have a very strong personal connection with David Lynch that goes beyond creativity. Yes, as an artist and filmmaker myself, he was by far one of my most cherished inspirations. He inspired so many people as witnessed by the many articles fans have written and the media coverage that have come out since his passing. However, the real gift David gave me was through Transcendental Meditation.
In May of 2022, my six year old son and I were attacked by an unhoused man, whacked out of his mind on drugs. I was stabbed in two places and had to literally fight for my life to save my son. It has been nothing short of a brutal experience and the PTSD I suffered is something that will be with me my entire life. But David helped me turn the worst event in my life, into the most positive. My interaction with the David Lynch foundation was instrumental in making me realize it was horror that saved my life, Wes Carven’s horror films in particular. I was lucky enough to get to tell this tale to IndieWire magazine, right as I was beginning to learn TM from the Lynch Foundation.
At this time, little did I know that a transformation was happening inside me. I had begun studying mediation previously many years ago and had tried several other forms of it over the years but nothing really stuck with me. After the attack I really needed something new and uplifting that could help with my anxiety and PTSD. As I was researching a project I was working on, I stumbled upon a declassified CIA document that showed in 1983, that they actually intensely studied, transcendental meditation. This blew my mind and I read the document twice just to absorb all of the info. The concept of using our consciousness to connect with a larger universal consciousness while in a state of relaxation by using a repetitive sound over and over had peeked my interest, The following images were instrumental in me understanding how TM worked and I immediately began to hunt for more on the process of TM.
You can read the actual CIA document here: ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF THE GATEWAY PROCESS
Image from the CIA document ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF THE GATEWAY PROCESS
After dabbling in the Monroe Institute’s offering of TM, I continued to search for ways to learn more and it was when I realized I really needed a teacher, that I found the David Lynch Foundation. I had heard that David had started this many years ago but never looked into it. And when I went to the website I was excited to find that they offered free programs for survivors of PTSD and more. I reached out and shortly thereafter I was approved to get mediation lessons for free. This was a huge bonus for me as the attack had really upended my financial situation and finally I got a break from someone it seemed. After a quick intro meeting I began taking classes and am happy to say, this daily practice of meditation has changed my life.
Every day I meditate for 20 minutes, twice and this wonderful break from the world has been so crucial in helping me not only sleep better but think better. If you have never meditated before the only way I can explain it to you would be that every time is a different journey. Some more led by colors, some more led by sound, all led by letting go and focusing on the mantra. I was very lucky to study under the guidance of Lynn Kaplan who is the kindest, most wonderful person I could have ever imagined as my teacher. Her guidance has changed me for the better and since I began meditation daily I have taken off to new heights creatively and mentally. Without the David Lynch Foundation, I honestly do not know where I’d be right now because I likley would not be here creating Nerd Horror.
If I can sum up the gift David has given me in simple terms it is this: I finally have peace of mind, clarity and calmness that has opened the door for my creativity to flow in ways it had never done before. I have the courage and strength now to do the things I was afraid to do because I may not have known how. TM gives me balance and calmness of thought in a world of chaos.
Thank you David Lynch. If you are interested in Transcendental Meditation, I highly suggest going to the David Lynch Foundation because even though David gave us the gift of his creativity, it is the foundation which I feel will be his longstanding legacy. It is a gift that never stops giving and I could not be more humble or grateful for it.
HAL HEFNER