Ex-con Blossoms with TM to Teacher Training Course

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is among the most important steps I've taken in my amazing journey from living in a prison cell, all the way to becoming a successful University student and loving husband.

Hello everyone, my name is Courtney Thomas (Ketu) and I’m originally from Chicago, IL. I now reside in Fairfield, IA while attending Maharishi University of Management as a full-time college student studying Maharishi Ayurveda. I have recently been accepted to the Transcendental Meditation Teacher Training Course (TTC) in Thailand, September 2020 - February 2021.

I would be immensely honored, through your generosity, to have the opportunity to support the growth of Maharishi's programs to create peace and alleviate suffering. I would make it my life goal to make sure that your investment in me would be paid back manyfold through my actions as a devoted TM teacher.

This course will also support my academic studies, as I will obtain 12 college credits towards my Undergraduate degree. The course fee is $19,500, not including transportation, visas, and health insurance (additional ~$2,500). So far I was able to raise (through loans and savings) $12,000 out of the total $22,000 needed to cover everything. Your contribution, no matter the size, would go a long way in supporting my journey to become a custodian of Maharishi's precious knowledge.



I was released from prison for the third (and last) time in 10 years on March 7, 2012. My life was going downhill quickly! It was then that I decided to change my ways and become a son that my parents and God could be proud of. I’d never been a religious individual growing up as a child, but I recall having the intuition to study the Bible during the last year of my incarceration. There was one verse that has left an impression on me more than any other; that verse is John 14:12 - "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." I can vividly remember reading this verse while sitting in a prison cell, asking myself HOW COULD THIS BE??? This sounded so far fetched to me at the time. How could I believe that I could do the works of my Lord and Savior, let alone greater things? So I began to pray sincerely… “If you show me the way, I will follow!” I spent another 3 years studying religion after being baptized the day I walked out of those prison gates. In 2015, I met my wise and beautiful wife and together we started our Spiritual journey of seeking God within. I remember trying so many forms of meditation techniques (Mindfulness, concentration, Qigong, etc.) to help grow in my Spiritual unfoldment. Unfortunately, the results I was seeking were not there. So I took a different route, one that focused on the body instead of the mind. This avenue lead me to a breakthrough that I later learned was the basis of obtaining Higher States of Consciousness. I found 2 forms of Integrative Medicine that have helped refine and bring my physiology into a more coherent state, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. After receiving Panchakarma in 2015, life for me took a dramatic turn for the better in every aspect (Spiritual, Physical, Emotion, and Mental). I became aware of another evolutionary step after Acupuncture and Herbal treatments. Although my life had been significantly more pleasant, I still felt as though I was missing something. Then I found it, Transcendental Meditation! A natural and effortless technique that allows the mind to effortlessly settle inward, experiencing quieter levels of thought, until the most silent and peaceful level is reached — Pure Consciousness. If you've never heard about it, you can learn more by visiting www.tm.org
It was that life-changing experience, along with its amazing results, that made me passionate about sharing this knowledge with others.

My wife and I founded a nonprofit organization, Enlightened Individuals, with the aim to equip truth seekers with scientific techniques and principles that help unite the individual mind with cosmic mind. For the last nine years, I've spent time, money, and discipline studying the Laws of Nature and how they relate to the different fields of life. Naturally, I decided to enroll at Maharishi University of Management for a BA in Maharishi Ayurveda, with an emphasis on becoming a TM Teacher. Eventually, I’d like to complete my Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and get my MD in Psychiatry. This will grant me a well-rounded Integrative Medical practice, focusing on the whole instead of the parts.

This is my vision of giving back to humanity. I tend to see myself as an advocate; leading the way in the Human Potential Movement. Being of service to other souls is my purpose in this life. I have a true passion to get to the heart of the issues of society so that people need not be rescued at all. Transcendental Meditation is simply the most effortless and effective way of achieving this goal!


Would it be possible for you to assist me in reaching this goal? I have until July 15, 2019, to raise the money for the costs of this program.  Any contribution would be greatly appreciated. Again, I promise to make it my life goal to make sure that your investment in me would be paid back manyfold through my actions as a devoted TM teacher.