Transcendental Meditation: An Ancient Practice

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a form of silent meditation developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the mid-1950s. It involves silently repeating a mantra for 15-20 minutes, twice a day, and is practised in a comfortable seated position with closed eyes. The technique is taught by certified teachers through a standard course of instruction, which varies in cost depending on the country.

TM is purported to promote a state of relaxed awareness, stress relief, creativity, and efficiency, as well as having physiological benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. It is one of the most widely practised and researched meditation techniques, with hundreds of published studies examining its effects.

Transcendental Meditation was developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the mid-1950s

Transcendental Meditation (TM) was developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the mid-1950s. The Indian spiritual figure began teaching the technique in India in 1955, and it was initially called Transcendental Deep Meditation. It was later renamed Transcendental Meditation.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi built on the teachings of his master, the Hindu Advaita monk Brahmananda Saraswati (Guru Dev). The Maharishi taught thousands of people during a series of world tours from 1958 to 1965, expressing his teachings in spiritual and religious terms. TM became more popular in the 1960s and 1970s, as the Maharishi shifted to a more technical presentation. He began training TM teachers in the early 1960s, and by 1978, there were 7,000 TM teachers in the United States alone.

TM involves silently repeating a mantra for 15 to 20 minutes, twice a day, while sitting comfortably with closed eyes. It is taught by certified teachers through a standard course of instruction, which costs a fee that varies by country. The technique has been described as both religious and non-religious, with the Transcendental Meditation movement being characterised in various ways, including as a spiritual movement, a new religious movement, and a cult.

TM is purported to promote a state of relaxed awareness, stress relief, creativity, and efficiency, as well as physiological benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Research on the therapeutic benefits of meditation, including TM, has produced varying results, with some studies finding that TM performed no better than other meditation techniques in improving psychological variables. However, other studies have found potential benefits of TM, such as reduced blood pressure and improved brain functioning.

TM has been utilised in various settings, including schools, corporations, and social programs for at-risk individuals. It has also been taught to military personnel and veterans, with potential benefits for those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). TM has attracted a diverse range of practitioners, from celebrities and business professionals to students and children.

It involves silently repeating a mantra for 15-20 minutes, twice a day

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a form of silent meditation developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the mid-1950s. It involves silently repeating a mantra for 15–20 minutes, twice a day, while sitting comfortably with closed eyes. The mantra is a vehicle that allows the individual's attention to travel naturally to a less active, quieter style of mental functioning.

TM instruction encourages students not to be alarmed by random thoughts that arise and to easily return to the mantra once they become aware of them. The mantra is chosen by a trained TM teacher for each student based on their personal interview. It is kept secret to ensure maximum results, avoid confusion, and protect against inaccurate teaching. The technique is taught in a standardised seven-step course over six days by a certified TM teacher.

TM is taught one-on-one and is backed by hundreds of research studies. It is described as an effortless practice that does not require any concentration or control of the mind. It is purported to promote a state of relaxed awareness, stress relief, self-development, and higher states of consciousness. It is also said to have physiological benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

TM has been incorporated into schools, universities, corporations, and prison programs worldwide. It has been practised by celebrities, including members of the Beatles and the Beach Boys, as well as Kendall Jenner, Hugh Jackman, Tom Hanks, and Oprah Winfrey. Despite its popularity, there is conflicting evidence regarding the effectiveness of TM in reducing anxiety and improving psychological well-being.

TM is taught by certified teachers through a standard course that costs a fee

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a form of silent meditation developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It involves silently repeating a mantra for 15 to 20 minutes, twice per day, while sitting with closed eyes. TM is taught by certified teachers through a standard course that costs a fee. The course is typically taught over six days and includes private and group instruction, with follow-up sessions available.

The TM course fee varies depending on factors such as the country, income, and age of the student. In the United States, the course is offered by the Maharishi Foundation USA, a non-profit educational organisation. The fees for the course in the US range from $420 for students to $980 for households with incomes of $200,000 or more, with options to pay in instalments. The organisation also offers partial scholarships and grants for those who cannot afford the course fee.

The course fee includes personal one-on-one instruction, lifetime support from certified TM instructors, access to group meditations and events, and a satisfaction guarantee. The fee helps cover the operating costs of TM centres and national offices, as well as supporting educational and charitable initiatives.

TM teachers are required to complete an intensive 5-month in-residence Teacher Training Course and maintain their certification through ongoing professional development. They are trained to instruct students, provide follow-up support, create lectures, and organise advanced TM courses and programs.

TM has been taught to millions of people worldwide, with an estimated 4 to 6 million practitioners over the decade from 2003 to 2013. It has been taught in various settings, including schools, universities, corporations, and social programs for at-risk groups.

TM is purported to promote a state of relaxed awareness, stress relief, creativity, and efficiency

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a form of silent meditation developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It involves the silent repetition of a mantra or sound, and is practised for 15–20 minutes, twice per day. TM is purported to promote a state of relaxed awareness, stress relief, creativity, and efficiency.

TM instruction encourages students not to be alarmed by random thoughts that arise, and to easily return to the mantra once they become aware of them. TM teachers caution their students not to be alarmed by random thoughts and to "attend" to the mantra. The technique includes a process called "unstressing", which combines "effortless relaxation with spontaneous imagery and emotion".

TM is purported to promote a state of relaxed awareness by encouraging practitioners to pay attention to their thoughts and feelings without judging them. TM's purported stress-relieving effects are supported by a 2015 systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 studies, which found that TM may effectively reduce blood pressure compared to control groups. TM may also reduce the risk of heart disease.

TM is purported to promote creativity by allowing the individual's attention to travel naturally to a less active, quieter style of mental functioning. TM is purported to promote efficiency by allowing the brain to refresh itself, which enables it to keep things in perspective. It also reduces the extent to which we feel overwhelmed and allows our minds to work more efficiently, increasing the effectiveness with which we tackle challenging situations.

TM has been practised by celebrities, including members of the Beatles and the Beach Boys

Transcendental Meditation (TM) was developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the mid-1950s. It is a form of silent meditation that involves the silent repetition of a mantra or sound, practised for 15 to 20 minutes, twice per day. TM is taught by certified teachers through a standard course of instruction, which costs a fee that varies by country.

TM became more popular in the 1960s and 1970s, as the Maharishi shifted to a more technical presentation of his teachings. This was also when the practice was taken up by celebrities, including members of the Beatles and the Beach Boys. The endorsement of TM by celebrities was one of the factors that helped popularise the practice.

The Beatles were known to have an interest in Transcendental Meditation, with George Harrison saying:

> "It's not a substitute for religion. It is a religion."

John Lennon also commented:

> "You can make it with meditation if you're a Christian, a Mohammedan or a Jew. You just add meditation to whatever religion you've got."

Mike Love of the Beach Boys has also spoken about his practice of Transcendental Meditation:

> "I practice transcendental meditation. I do it twice a day. Even though I’ve been feeling a little under the weather lately, it gives me so much energy."

Other celebrities who have practised Transcendental Meditation include Clint Eastwood, David Lynch, Jerry Seinfeld, Oprah Winfrey, Hugh Jackman, Cameron Diaz, Katy Perry, Ellen DeGeneres, Tom Hanks, Jennifer Lopez, Mick Jagger, Eva Mendez, Moby, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, Eric André, Howard Stern, Julia Fox, Martin Scorsese, Russell Brand, Nick Cave, Kendall Jenner, and many more.

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