What is the Transcendental Meditation technique?

The Transcendental Meditation technique (TM technique) is an easy and natural way to experience Transcendental Consciousness. Transcendental Consciousness is the most settled state of the mind and is the home of all creativity and intelligence in everyone.

Transcendental means beyond. In Transcendental Consciousness there are no thoughts. It is a state where the mind is without thoughts, a state of going beyond thoughts.

During Transcendental Meditation it is possible to experience a state of no thoughts, whilst the mind stays alert. This is called "restful alertness".

The Transcendental Meditation technique (TM) was brought to the world by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1957.

The TM technique is a simple technique that anyone can learn. It is not a religion and people are not asked to change their way of life. It is not necessary to believe in it for it to work.

Understanding and experiencing

It is difficult to understand the word "transcendental" until you have actually experienced the process of transcending. This natural phenomenon of the mind to go inward, only becomes obvious once one starts practising TM. Trying to intellectually understand it, is like trying to explain how a strawberry tastes to someone who has never tasted one.

Meditation

The word "meditation" signifies the move from grosser levels of activity of the mind towards finer levels. From there it goes towards even finer levels, till the finest level of activity of the mind is experienced. When that level is transcended, one arrives at the state of pure silence, Transcendental Consciousness.

This is the source of all thoughts, the most settled state of the mind, which is the source of all creativity and intelligence. It is a very precious experience, which leads to the full development of our mental potential.

Unfortunately the word meditation seems to be associated with renunciation and a reclusive way of life, so that many people decided Transcendental Meditation was not for them.

It is a great pity that those aspiring to the highest values in life, could not take up this effective method to reach the source of all organizing power within them.

Infinite reservoir of creativity and intelligence

However, those who did start practising the Transcendental Meditation technique, found that there was an infinite reservoir of creativity and intelligence in themselves.

They started to feel better, they made better decisions, they kept on top of difficult situations; they felt more rested and energetic.

They became leaders in their professional lives, happier individuals, better organizers and all this appeared to have started since they learned the simple and natural technique of Transcendental Meditation.

Scientific verification

Scientists who heard these positive results of those practising TM, were inspired to see if these experiences were real, or maybe just dreams and decided to conduct a series of experiments.

The reality dawned to them as soon as the first scientific results were published in the world's leading scientific journals, like the Journal of Physiology, Scientific American etc. Results of more than 600 scientific studies showed an overall improvement in many areas of life.

Since then many thousands of people from all walks of life, have started TM and begun to enjoy the benefits of this increasingly popular technique.

Now there are about 6 million people in the world who have learned the Transcendental Meditation technique. TM has also been introduced in many schools and colleges.

TM technique taught in a systematic way

The TM technique is taught in a systematic and universal way. Everybody who learns this technique, learns to practise it in exactly the same way as everybody else does.

The teachers are intensively trained and qualified to teach the TM technique in the same universal way. In this way the teaching will stay effective, generation after generation.

The TM technique is given to us by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and stems from an ancient Vedic Tradition of which Maharishi's teacher Guru Dev was the last exponent.

The TM technique is a most precious gift to all people in the world, because it develops all aspects of life in a holistic and natural way.

The TM technique is unique because it is simple, effortless and universally applicable. Scientific research has shown it to be the most effective technique in the world for the development of our full potential.

"This is that one technology which has the potential to raise the life of every individual and society to its full dignity, where problems and suffering are absent, and perfect health, happiness, success, and rapid pace of progress are the natural features of life".
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Article copyright Dravina Ltd, company supporting consciousness-based world peace projects. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted without prior written permission of the author.

Links to TM websites in the different countries:

If your country is not listed, please click here

Australia
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
France
Germany
India
Ireland
Italy
Lebanon
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
South Africa
South America
Spain
Switzerland - Maharishi Veda Center Zurich
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Scotland
United States

Books about the Transcendental Meditation technique:

The Science of Being and Art of Living

This book, written by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, deals with the fundamentals of all problems in life and finds one solution for all of them by exploring that which lies underneath the subtlest layer of the relative field, the field of pure Being, Transcendental Consciousness. Read more at MUM Press.

The TM® Book: How to Enjoy the Rest of your Life

This book by Denise Denniston, Ph.D. describes the TM technique using many illustrations. You will find answers to all possible questions. The TM Book has been a bestseller and is an ideal gift for introducing the TM programme to your friends. The new edition includes 80 new pages, covering the TM Sidhi programme and Maharishi's Vedic Approach to Health. More about The TM Book.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Transcendental Meditation
By Robert Roth

This book features testimonials from business people, doctors and students. An ideal introductory book for family and friends. More about Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation by Robert Roth.

The Physiology of Consciousness
By Robert Keith Wallace, Ph.D.

Dr. Wallace explains that at the basis of the "physiology of matter" which is manifest, lies the unmanifest "physiology of consciousness". By attending to this source of the physiology through direct experience of the unmanifest, abstract and all-pervading level of intelligence, Natural Law, can we create true health. Dr. Wallace published the first scientific research on the Transcendental Meditation programme. More about The Physiology of Consciousness

The Neurophysiology of Enlightenment
By Robert Keith Wallace, Ph.D.

In this book, The Neurophysiology of Enlightenment, Dr. Robert Keith Wallace explains how the enlivenment of the Unified Field of Natural Law can bring about a reversal of the aging process and create the physiological basis for world peace. Read more about The Neurophysiology of Enlightenment.