Transcendental Meditation: Secretive Practices, Why?

Transcendental meditation has been described as \shrouded in secrecy. To learn it, people have to pay the TM institute, after which a practitioner will give them a mantra and teach them the process. The mantras are meaningless, intended to fade towards silence, and chosen for the individual. They are given to students by teachers, who have a number of mantras passed down to them through a long line of teachers. The mantras are kept secret because it is traditional, and because transcendental meditation is a very personal and intimate part of daily meditation.

Transcendental meditation is based on simple principles and is not a secret formula

With enough repetitions, you should feel the mantra fade away gradually into your mind, as you let any other thoughts float around without trying to influence them in any particular way. If you do this every day for a while, you will start noticing the benefits of reduced stress. The mantra is chosen for the individual, and the teacher must be highly trained to select an appropriate one.

Transcendental meditation is a spiritual path and a Yogic meditation practice, designed to have specific effects on the individual. These effects can be quite dramatic, and it is important to think hard about what you want to get into before you do. It is not the same as mantra meditation, as there is no concentration or observing thoughts. The mantra disappears.

Transcendental meditation is effortless and can be quite effective in reducing stress, with some practitioners reporting that they feel more calm and alert during the day, and sleep better at night. However, it is not a secret formula, and the principles behind it are simple and accessible to anyone.

The mantra is meaningless and intended to fade towards silence

Transcendental meditation (TM) is a technique that uses a private mantra and is practised for 20 minutes twice per day while sitting with closed eyes. TM teachers caution their students not to be alarmed by random thoughts and to "attend" to the mantra. The mantra is intended to be a vehicle that allows the individual's attention to travel naturally to a less active, quieter style of mental functioning.

TM mantras are meaningless and intended to fade towards silence. The use of meaningless mantras is a key aspect of TM. If the word has any meaning to the meditator, their brain will engage with the word and stop them from transcending. The sound of the mantra is intended to fade towards silence, charming and attracting the mind, and helping it settle.

TM mantras are selected by teachers from a large group of mantras passed down through a long line of teachers to students. The teachers select a mantra that is suitable for each student. The mantras are intended to be kept secret to ensure maximum results, to avoid confusion in the mind of the meditators, and as a "protection against inaccurate teaching".

The TM community is not shrouded in secrecy and has talks about its benefits on YouTube

There is a perception that transcendental meditation (TM) is shrouded in secrecy. This is partly due to the tradition of keeping one's mantra secret, which is a very personal aspect of the practice. However, the TM community is not entirely secretive, and there is a wealth of information available about TM on various platforms, including YouTube.

TM practitioners and teachers are open about their experiences and the benefits they have gained from the practice. They emphasise that there are no secret techniques being withheld and that the mantras are given to students by teachers, who select an appropriate one for each individual. While the specific mantras are kept confidential, practitioners are willing to discuss the purpose and characteristics of mantras in general. For example, TM mantras are intended to be meaningless, as this makes them more effective. If a word has meaning, the brain will engage with it and prevent transcendence. Additionally, the sound of the mantra should fade towards silence, as this charms the mind and helps it settle.

YouTube, in particular, has numerous videos and talks about transcendental meditation and its benefits. These videos cover a range of topics, including quick relaxation, power naps, deep sleep, improved concentration, and stress reduction. There are also guided meditations available on YouTube that can help viewers relax, sleep better, improve their intuition, and increase their spiritual awareness.

The TM community's online presence, including YouTube talks, demonstrates their willingness to share information and experiences with others. While certain aspects, such as individual mantras, may remain private, the community actively engages in discussions and provides resources to help others understand and potentially benefit from transcendental meditation.

TM is a spiritual path, a Yogic meditation practice, not a business

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a spiritual path and a Yogic meditation practice. It is not a business, despite what some may perceive. The practice has been described as shrouded in secrecy, with some even calling it a "grift" or a "scam". However, the secrecy surrounding TM is primarily due to two reasons: the tradition of keeping one's mantra secret, and the personal and intimate nature of the daily meditation practice.

The tradition of keeping one's mantra secret is an important aspect of TM. The mantra is a "seed" mantra, meant to be kept silent and planted deeply in one's consciousness to allow for growth and deeper effects. Additionally, the mantra is chosen specifically for the individual by a trained teacher, and speaking it out could weaken its impact or lead others to believe they can use the same mantra.

TM also becomes a very personal and intimate part of one's daily meditation practice. The mantra, though meaningless, is incredibly important and personal to the practitioner. It is intended to fade towards silence, charming and attracting the mind, and allowing it to settle. This personal nature of the mantra and the meditation practice as a whole contributes to the sense of secrecy surrounding TM.

Furthermore, TM is a spiritual path that can lead to specific effects and even dramatic changes in the individual. It is a Yogic meditation practice with roots in ancient India, intended to bring about stillness, reduced stress, and a deeper state of relaxation and consciousness. While there may be misconceptions and criticisms surrounding the practice, including concerns about high costs and cult-like behaviour, TM remains a spiritual path that has helped many individuals find peace and improve their mental well-being.

TM is not a business, but a spiritual and meditation practice with a long history and dedicated followers. The secrecy surrounding it is largely due to the traditional and personal nature of the mantra and the meditation experience as a whole.

TM is marketed as a quick-fix mental health supplement

Transcendental Meditation (TM) has been criticised for its secrecy, with some people claiming that it is a "cash grab" or a cult. However, others have defended the practice, arguing that it is a legitimate tradition that has had profound and powerful effects on its practitioners.

TM has been practised since about 1968, when the Beatles tried it and Life magazine declared it "the Year of the Guru." The basic principle is simple: by repeating a mantra, a positive or nice-sounding word, you can practice concentration. Over time, as the mantra loses its meaning to you, your brain "de-concentrates." This technique was discovered thousands of years ago in ancient India.

TM has been criticised for its high cost, with some people feeling that they have been conned. The course can cost around $700, with some people reporting fees of over $1000. However, it is important to note that the course fee is income-based and that there are reduced fees for those who cannot afford it. The fee includes lifetime membership and access to advanced meetings and private meetings with a teacher.

TM has been endorsed by several celebrities, including David Lynch, Katy Perry, Lena Dunham, Ellen DeGeneres, and Russell Brand. These endorsements have likely contributed to the increased popularity of TM, especially among fashionable devotees and Wall Street traders.

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