Maharishi Mahesh Yogi passed away quietly today at his home in the Netherlands.  Though he influenced millions, including myself, through his Transcendental Meditation movement, like other great thinkers before him, his true brilliance may not be fully appreciated until long after his death.  I had the great good fortune to hear him speak on many occasions about the deep connection that exists between western science (the study of the observable universe) and Vedic Science (the study of consciousness - the observer), and I can say from my own experience that this was a truly remarkable man.  If you ever get a notion to delve into Vedic philosophy or to incorporate yoga and meditation into your daily routine, I can't recommend it highly enough.