Editing David Lynch (section)

==Personal life==
===Relationships===
[[File:Isabella Rossellini David Lynch Cannes.jpg|thumb|Lynch with [[Isabella Rossellini]] at the [[1990 Cannes Film Festival]].]]
Lynch had several long-term relationships. In January 1968, he married Peggy Reavey,<ref name="Room-to-Dream" /> with whom he had one child, [[Jennifer Lynch]], a film director.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=J.R.|date=May 3, 2017|title=For David Lynch, nothing was scarier than dear old dad|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/david-lynch-art-life-twin-peaks-eraserhead/Content?oid=26393970|website=ChicagoReader.com|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028105255/https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/david-lynch-art-life-twin-peaks-eraserhead/Content?oid=26393970|url-status=live}}</ref> They filed for divorce in 1974.<ref name="Vulture180625">{{cite magazine|last=Marchese|first=David|date=June 25, 2018|title=In Conversation: David Lynch|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/06/david-lynch-in-conversation.html|magazine=Vulture|access-date=October 26, 2020|url-access=subscription|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028210341/https://www.vulture.com/2018/06/david-lynch-in-conversation.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 1977, Lynch married Mary Fisk, with whom he had one child, Austin Jack Lynch, in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|last=Woodward|first=Richard B.|date=January 14, 1990|title=A Dark Lens on America|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/14/magazine/a-dark-lens-on-america.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 26, 2020|url-access=registration|archive-date=June 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604135046/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/14/magazine/a-dark-lens-on-america.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They separated in 1985 and divorced in 1987.<ref name="Vulture180625" /> Lynch had a relationship with actress [[Isabella Rossellini]] and lived with her between 1986 and 1991. In 1992, he and his editor [[Mary Sweeney]] had a son, Riley Sweeney Lynch.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 1, 2011|title=Mary Sweeney – 'Baraboo' |url=https://pbswisconsin.org/watch/directors-cut/directors-cut-mary-sweeney-baraboo/|publisher=[[PBS Wisconsin]]|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028204839/https://pbswisconsin.org/watch/directors-cut/directors-cut-mary-sweeney-baraboo/|url-status=live}}</ref> Sweeney also worked as Lynch's producer and co-wrote and produced ''[[The Straight Story]]''. The two married in May 2006, but filed for divorce that June.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Acoymo|first1=Mary Margaret|last2=Keith|first2=Amy Elisa|date=June 14, 2006|title=David Lynch, Wife Split After 1 Month|url=https://people.com/celebrity/david-lynch-wife-split-after-1-month/|work=People|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028211315/https://people.com/celebrity/david-lynch-wife-split-after-1-month/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, Lynch married actress Emily Stofle,<ref name="II120908" /> who appeared in his 2006 film ''[[Inland Empire (film)|Inland Empire]]'' as well as the [[Twin Peaks season 3|2017 revival of ''Twin Peaks'']]. The couple had one child, Lula Boginia Lynch, in 2012.<ref name="II120908">{{cite news|date=September 8, 2012|title=Director David Lynch and wife welcome first daughter|url=https://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/director-david-lynch-and-wife-welcome-first-daughter-26895824.html|work=[[Irish Independent]]|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028212020/https://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/director-david-lynch-and-wife-welcome-first-daughter-26895824.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Stofle filed for divorce in 2023. A divorce settlement agreement was reached on December 20, 2024, but the court had not issued a final divorce decree at the time of Lynch's death.

===Political and public views===
[[File:David Lynch 2016.jpg|thumb|Lynch in 2016]]
In 2009, Lynch signed a petition in support of director [[Roman Polanski]] after Polanski was detained while traveling to a film festival arrest on his 1977 [[Roman Polanski sexual abuse case|sexual abuse charges]]. The petition argued the arrest would undermine the tradition of film festivals as a place for works to be shown "freely and safely", and that arresting filmmakers traveling to neutral countries could open the door "for actions of which no-one can know the effects."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shoard |first1=Catherine |author2=agencies |date=September 29, 2009 |title=Release Polanski, demands petition by film industry luminaries |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/sep/29/roman-polanski-petition |url-status=live |work=The Guardian |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180108124633/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/sep/29/roman-polanski-petition |archive-date=January 8, 2018 |access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2012 |title=Le cinéma soutient Roman Polanski / Petition for Roman Polanski – SACD |url=http://www.sacd.fr/Le-cinema-soutient-Roman-Polanski-Petition-for-Roman-Polanski.1340.0.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604100742/http://www.sacd.fr/Le-cinema-soutient-Roman-Polanski-Petition-for-Roman-Polanski.1340.0.html |archive-date=June 4, 2012 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=sacd.fr}}</ref>

Lynch said he was "not a political person" and knew little about politics.<ref name="barney">{{cite book |last=Barney |first=Richard A. |url={{Google books|9dTCkwmvEyIC|plainurl=yes}} |title=David Lynch: Interviews |publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-60473-236-8 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428075845/https://books.google.com/books?id=9dTCkwmvEyIC |archive-date=April 28, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|103}} Describing his political philosophy in 2006, he said, "at that time [the 1990s], I thought of myself as a [[Libertarianism|libertarian]]. I believed in next to zero government. And I still would lean toward no government and not so many rules, except for traffic lights and things like this. I really believe in traffic regulations."<ref name="reason">{{cite web |date=December 11, 2006 |title=Was David Lynch the Original Libertarian Democrat? |url=https://reason.com/2006/12/11/was-david-lynch-the-original-l/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025220834/http://reason.com/blog/2006/12/11/was-david-lynch-the-original-l |archive-date=October 25, 2014 |access-date=October 25, 2014 |website=[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]]}}</ref> He continued: "I'm a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] now. And I've always been a Democrat, really. But I don't like the Democrats a lot, either, because I'm a smoker, and I think a lot of the Democrats have come up with these rules for non-smoking."<ref name="reason" /> He said he voted for [[Ronald Reagan]] in the [[1984 United States presidential election|1984 presidential election]]; in the [[2000 U.S. presidential election|2000 presidential election]] he endorsed the [[Natural Law Party (United States)|Natural Law Party]], which advocated [[Transcendental Meditation]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lim |first=Dennis |date=June 29, 2018 |title=Donald Trump's America and the Visions of David Lynch |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/donald-trumps-america-and-the-visions-of-david-lynch |access-date=February 29, 2024 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}</ref><ref name="barney" /> In the [[2012 U.S. presidential election|2012 presidential election]] he said he would vote for Democratic incumbent [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lynch |first=David |title=Reason 52: I Have Noticed Something in Mitt Romney's name. |url=http://90days90reasons.com/52.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103074940/http://90days90reasons.com/52.php |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=October 26, 2012 |work=90 Days, 90 Reasons}}</ref>

In the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]], Lynch endorsed [[Bernie Sanders]],<ref>{{cite tweet |user=DAVID_LYNCH |first=David |last=Lynch |date=March 29, 2016 |title=Dear Twtter Friends, YAY! BERNIE SANDERS FOR PRESIDENT!!! |number=714871987043078144 |access-date=March 29, 2016}}</ref> whom he described as "for the people".<ref>{{cite tweet |user=DAVID_LYNCH |first=David |last=Lynch |date=April 26, 2016 |title=Dear Bernie Sanders, You are for the people. Great good luck to you going forward!!! |number=724991687286628352 }}</ref> He voted for Sanders in the [[2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2016 Democratic primaries]]<ref name="Carrol">{{cite news |last=Carrol |first=Rory |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jun/23/david-lynch-gotta-be-selfish-twin-peaks#comments |title=David Lynch: 'You gotta be selfish. It's a terrible thing' |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=June 25, 2018 |access-date=June 25, 2018 |archive-date=June 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624213836/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jun/23/david-lynch-gotta-be-selfish-twin-peaks#comments |url-status=live }}</ref> and for Libertarian nominee [[Gary Johnson]] in the general election.<ref>{{cite news |last=Peyser |first=Eve |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/no-david-lynch-didnt-actually-praise-trump/ |title=No, David Lynch Didn't Actually Praise Trump |newspaper=[[Vice News]] |date=June 26, 2018 |access-date=March 5, 2020 |archive-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420184522/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/43595b/no-david-lynch-didnt-actually-praise-trump |url-status=live }}</ref> In a June 2018 interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'', Lynch said that [[Donald Trump]] could go down as "one of the greatest presidents in history because he has disrupted the [country] so much. No one is able to counter this guy in an intelligent way." He added: "Our so-called leaders can't take the country forward, can't get anything done. Like children, they are. Trump has shown all this."<ref name="Carrol" /> The interviewer clarified that "while Trump may not be doing a good job himself, Lynch thinks, he is opening up a space where other outsiders might."<ref name="Carrol" /> At a rally later that month, Trump read out sections of the interview, claiming Lynch was a supporter.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 26, 2018|title=Trump jokes David Lynch's career 'is over' as he quotes Guardian interview|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeU8-HqUgYA&feature=youtu.be&t=20|access-date=November 5, 2020|via=YouTube|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101232245/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeU8-HqUgYA&feature=youtu.be&t=20|url-status=live}}</ref> Lynch later clarified on Facebook that his words were taken out of context, saying that Trump would "not have a chance to go down in history as a great president" if he continued on the course of "causing suffering and division" and advising him to "treat all the people as you would like to be treated".<ref>{{cite web |title=David Lynch |url=https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1800909923291220&id=236978119684416&__tn__=%2As%2As-R |via=Facebook |access-date=June 26, 2018 |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228024827/https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1800909923291220&id=236978119684416&__tn__=%2As%2As-R |url-status=live }}</ref>

In one of his daily weather report videos in 2020, Lynch expressed support for [[Black Lives Matter]] protests following the [[murder of George Floyd]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/06/david-lynch-black-lives-matter-weather-video-1202235254/|title=David Lynch Adds Black Lives Matter Message to Daily Web Series: 'Peace, Justice, No Fear'|date=June 3, 2020|last=Sharf|first=Zack|publisher=IndieWire}}</ref> In a 2022 weather report, he condemned the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and addressed Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] directly, telling him there was "no room for this kind of absurdity anymore" and that Putin would reap what he had sown, lifetime after lifetime.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=February 25, 2022 |title=David Lynch Condemns Putin: 'All This Death and Destruction Will Come Back to Visit You' |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/david-lynch-condemns-putin-russia-ukraine-1235190262/ |access-date=March 16, 2022 |website=Variety}}</ref>

Lynch was present with other Boy Scouts outside the [[White House]] at the [[Inauguration of John F. Kennedy|inauguration of President John F. Kennedy]], which took place on Lynch's 15th birthday.<ref name="lynch05" />{{rp|5}} When Kennedy was [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy|assassinated]] in 1963, Lynch was the first in his school to hear of it, as he was working on a display case rather than attending class.{{sfn|Lynch|Rodley|2005|p=6}} 

===Transcendental Meditation===
{{Main|David Lynch Foundation}}
[[File:David Lynch at Town Hall.jpg|thumb|upright|Lynch speaking on [[Transcendental Meditation]] and the creative process in 2007<ref>{{cite web |title=Filmmaker David Lynch explains how to catch big ideas (Lecture) |url=http://www.new.prx.org/pieces/19719#description |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531190241/http://www.new.prx.org/pieces/19719 |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |publisher=KUOW-FM}}</ref>]]
Lynch advocated Transcendental Meditation as a spiritual practice.<ref name="NS 2013">{{cite web |last=Lynch |first=David |date=October 31, 2013 |title=David Lynch on meditation: Heaven is a place on earth |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/10/heaven-place-earth |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031225647/http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/10/heaven-place-earth |archive-date=October 31, 2013 |access-date=November 2, 2013 |work=[[New Statesman]]}}</ref> He was initiated into Transcendental Meditation in July 1973, and practiced the technique consistently thereafter.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lynch |first=David |date=July 3, 2008 |title=The pleasure of life grows |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/03/healthandwellbeing.davidlynch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307154324/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/03/healthandwellbeing.davidlynch |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |access-date=December 11, 2016 |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London}}</ref><ref name="WP-12-01-2005">{{cite news |last=Booth |first=William |date=December 2, 2005 |title=Yogi Bearer |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/01/AR2005120101798.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110121711/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/01/AR2005120101798.html |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Lynch said he met [[Maharishi Mahesh Yogi]], the founder of the [[Transcendental Meditation movement|TM movement]], for the first time in 1975 at the [[Spiritual Regeneration Movement]] center in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hoffman |first=Claire |date=March 12, 2012 |title=David Lynch's Guru and His Art |url=http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2008/02/david_lynch_talks_about_the_de.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312155601/http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2008/02/david_lynch_talks_about_the_de.html |archive-date=March 12, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kress |first=Michael |title=David Lynch's Peace Plan |url=http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Celebrities/David-Lynchs-Peace-Plan.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724223417/http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Celebrities/David-Lynchs-Peace-Plan.aspx |archive-date=July 24, 2010 |access-date=November 29, 2010 |website=BeliefNet.com}}</ref> He became close with the Maharishi during a month-long "Millionaire's Enlightenment Course" held in 2003, the fee for which was $1 million.<ref name="Stevens">{{cite news |last1=Stevens |first1=Jacqueline |last2=Barkham |first2=Patrick |date=January 27, 2009 |title=And now children, it's time for your yogic flying lesson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jan/27/david-lynch-meditation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812000251/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jan/27/david-lynch-meditation |archive-date=August 12, 2016 |access-date=December 11, 2016 |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London}}</ref>

In July 2005, Lynch launched the [[David Lynch Foundation|David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and Peace]],<ref name="Williams" /><ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.davidlynchfoundation.org/message.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250111000427/https://www.davidlynchfoundation.org/message.html |archive-date=January 11, 2025 |work=David Lynch Foundation For Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace}}</ref> established to help finance scholarships for students in middle and high schools who are interested in learning Transcendental Meditation and to fund research on the technique and its effects on learning. Together with [[John Hagelin]] and Fred Travis, a brain researcher from [[Maharishi University of Management]] (MUM), Lynch promoted his vision on college campuses with a tour that began in September 2005.<ref>{{cite web |year=2005 |title=David Lynch – John Hagelin Tour Inspires Thousands of College Students on East and West Coasts |url=http://istpp.org/news/2005_09_lynchtour.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723222120/http://istpp.org/news/2005_09_lynchtour.html |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |access-date=August 16, 2012 |publisher=Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy}}</ref> Lynch was on MUM's board of trustees<ref>{{cite press release |title=Filmmaker David Lynch to Give 2016 Commencement Address at Maharishi University of Management |date=April 18, 2016 |url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/filmmaker-david-lynch-give-2016-commencement-address-maharishi-university-management-2115565.htm |access-date=January 28, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128021130/http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/filmmaker-david-lynch-give-2016-commencement-address-maharishi-university-management-2115565.htm |archive-date=January 28, 2018 |work=Marketwire}}</ref> and hosted an annual "David Lynch Weekend for World Peace and Meditation" there, beginning in 2005.<ref name="Reimer">{{cite magazine |last=Reimer |first=Emily |date=October 30, 2009 |title=Fourth Annual David Lynch Weekend for World Peace and Meditation Taking Place in Iowa |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/10/4th-annual-david-lynch-weekend-for-worldpeace-and.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105113841/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/10/4th-annual-david-lynch-weekend-for-worldpeace-and.html |archive-date=November 5, 2009 |access-date=November 15, 2009 |magazine=Paste Magazine}}</ref> The foundation has also funded meditation lessons for veterans and other "at-risk" populations.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hackman |first1=Rose |date=November 4, 2015 |title=David Lynch and Katy Perry promote meditation with Carnegie Hall event |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/04/david-lynch-transcendental-meditation-luxury-fad |access-date=January 17, 2025 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

Lynch was working for the building and establishment of seven buildings in which 8,000 salaried people would practice advanced meditation techniques, "pumping peace for the world". He estimated the cost at US$7&nbsp;[[1,000,000,000|billion]]. As of December 2005, he had spent $400,000 of his money and raised $1&nbsp;million in donations.<ref name="WP-12-01-2005" /> In December 2006, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that he continued to have that goal.<ref name="Williams" /> Lynch's book ''[[Catching the Big Fish]]'' (2006) discusses Transcendental Meditation's effect on his creative process. Lynch attended the Maharishi's funeral in India in 2008.<ref name="Stevens" /> He told a reporter, "In life, he revolutionized the lives of millions of people. ... In 20, 50, 500 years there will be millions of people who will know and understand what the Maharishi has done."<ref>{{cite news |last=Mukherjee |first=Krittivas |date=February 11, 2008 |title=West meets East on guru Mahesh Yogi's funeral pyre |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-31875220080211 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112221917/http://in.reuters.com/article/2008/02/11/idINIndia-31875220080211 |archive-date=January 12, 2012 |access-date=May 7, 2010 |work=Reuters}}</ref> In 2009, Lynch went to India to film interviews with people who knew the Maharishi as part of a biographical documentary.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 18, 2009 |title=David Lynch to shoot film about TM guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India |url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/david-lynch-to-shoot-film-about-tm-guru-maharishi-mahesh-yogi-in-india_100276506.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127062011/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/david-lynch-to-shoot-film-about-tm-guru-maharishi-mahesh-yogi-in-india_100276506.html |archive-date=January 27, 2012 |access-date=May 7, 2010 |work=Thaindian News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bychawski |first=Adam |date=November 18, 2009 |title=David Lynch to make film about Beatles guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi |url=http://www.nme.com/news/the-beatles/48442 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421200330/http://www.nme.com/news/the-beatles/48442 |archive-date=April 21, 2016 |work=[[NME]]}}</ref>

[[File:David Lynch Paris Oct 2007.jpg|thumb|left|140px|Lynch dedicating his book ''Catching the Big Fish'' in Paris on the occasion of his World Tour in 2007.]]

In 2009, Lynch organized a benefit concert at [[Radio City Music Hall]] for the David Lynch Foundation. On April 4, 2009, the "Change Begins Within" concert featured [[Paul McCartney]], [[Ringo Starr]], [[Donovan]], [[Sheryl Crow]], [[Eddie Vedder]], [[Moby]], [[Bettye LaVette]], [[Ben Harper]], and [[Mike Love]].<ref name="NYT-04-04-09">{{cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |date=April 4, 2009 |title=Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Reunite at Radio City |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/paul-mccartney-ringo-starr-reunite-at-radio-city |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408171838/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/paul-mccartney-ringo-starr-reunite-at-radio-city/ |archive-date=April 8, 2009 |access-date=August 27, 2022 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> ''[[David Wants to Fly]]'' is a 2010 documentary by German filmmaker David Sieveking "that follows the path of his professional idol, David Lynch, into the world of Transcendental Meditation (TM)".<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2010 |title=German Documentaries 2010 |url=http://german-documentaries.de/media/pdf/german-documentaries_10.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719031922/http://german-documentaries.de/media/pdf/german-documentaries_10.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |access-date=May 7, 2010 |work=german-documentaries.de |page=17 |quote=The young filmmaker David Sieveking follows the path of his professional idol, David Lynch, into the world of Transcendental Meditation (TM).}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Simon |first=Alissa |date=February 14, 2010 |title=Review: 'David Wants to Fly' |url=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117942181.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&nid=2562 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229173815/http://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/david-wants-to-fly-1117942181/ |archive-date=December 29, 2015 |access-date=April 1, 2022 |website=Variety |quote='David Wants to Fly' follows German writer-helmer David Sieveking on his road to enlightenment, a journey that involves David Lynch, various headquarters of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement and the icy source of the Ganges.}}</ref> At the end of the film, Sieveking becomes disillusioned with the TM movement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2019 |title=Für Lynch bin ich ein Feind |trans-title='To Lynch I am an enemy' |url=https://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/fuer-lynch-bin-ich-ein-feind_aid-561039 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101133735/https://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/fuer-lynch-bin-ich-ein-feind_aid-561039 |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |access-date=July 17, 2022 |language=de}}</ref>

An independent project starring Lynch called ''Beyond The Noise: My Transcendental Meditation Journey'', directed by Dana Farley, who has severe dyslexia and attention deficit disorder, was shown at film festivals in 2011,<ref>{{cite news |date=August 24, 2010 |title=Beyond The Noise |url=http://dlf.tv/2010/beyond-the-noise/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908003911/http://dlf.tv/2010/beyond-the-noise/ |archive-date=September 8, 2010 |access-date=August 24, 2010 |work=David Lynch Foundation}}</ref> including the Marbella Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web |year=2011 |title=List of 2011 documentaries |url=http://www.marbellafilmfestival.com/archives/awards-2011/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318123254/http://www.marbellafilmfestival.com/archives/awards-2011/ |archive-date=March 18, 2012 |publisher=Marbella Film Festival}}</ref> Filmmaker [[Kevin Sean Michaels]] is one of the producers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1705102/ |title=Beyond the Noise: My Transcendental Meditation Journey |publisher=[[IMDb]] }}</ref> In 2013, Lynch wrote: "Transcendental Meditation leads to a beautiful, peaceful revolution. A change from suffering and negativity to happiness and a life more and more free of any problems."<ref name="NS 2013" />

In a 2019 interview by British artist [[Alexander de Cadenet]], Lynch said: "Here's an experience that utilizes the full brain. That's what it's for. It's for enlightenment, for higher states of consciousness, culminating in the highest state of unity consciousness."<ref>{{cite web |date=February 5, 2020 |title=Post |url=https://www.awakenedartists.com/post/2019/09/19/david-lynch-on-transcendental-meditation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220130659/https://www.awakenedartists.com/post/2019/09/19/david-lynch-on-transcendental-meditation |archive-date=February 20, 2020 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |website=awakenedartists |language=en}}</ref> In April 2022, Lynch announced a $500 million transcendental meditation world peace initiative to fund transcendental meditation for 30,000 college students.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergeson |first=Samantha |date=April 15, 2022 |title=David Lynch Launches $500 Million Transcendental Meditation World Peace Initiative |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/04/david-lynch-transcendental-meditation-world-peace-initiative-1234716956/ |access-date=April 15, 2022 |website=IndieWire |language=en}}</ref> In September 2024, Lynch made his last published broadcast speech at Meditate America 2024. He discussed the Beatles' (particularly [[John Lennon]]'s) practice of TM during [[The Beatles in India|their visit to India in 1968]] and played a cover of "[[Across the Universe]]".