Transcendental Meditation: What It Is and How to Do TM

With millions of adherents worldwide, Transcendental Meditation has been practiced for millennia, since its origins in the Vedic tradition. Numerous scientific studies prove the benefits of this practice, which increases creativity, enhances intelligence and refines perception, improving the ability to solve problems.

One of the most alluring aspects of Transcendental Meditation, also known as “TM”, is that you don’t have to work hard to control, silence or focus your mind. So much so that the technique is so easy that it can be taught to children as young as 5 years old.

Next, we’ll see more about what Transcendental Meditation is and how to do it.

What is Transcendental Meditation

Introduced in 1958 by the Indian master Maharish Mahesh Yogi, who in turn learned from his master, Guru Dev, Transcendental Meditation involves the use of (meaningless) sounds called mantras.

In the words of the founder of transcendental meditation, Maharish:

“Transcendental Meditation is a natural technique that allows the conscious mind to increasingly experience subtler states of thought, until the source of thought, the limitless store of energy and creative intelligence, is reached.”

The name Transcendental comes from the Latin transcends, which means “to cross, to cross, to transpose”. Therefore, Transcendental Meditation is everything that is “very high, sublime, superior” and is “above ordinary ideas and knowledge”.

It is a practice that does not involve concentration or mental control, but surrender and a dive into oneself through the power of the mantra.

The idea is that when you begin to notice silence, you experience a sense of wholeness that makes fear and anxiety disappear. When the meditative state is achieved, it stops the manifestation of thoughts and brings about the deepest level of consciousness.

This is where Transcendental Meditation differs from traditional meditation: TM does not involve concentration or control of thoughts or mind, because even with minimal effort, we are still keeping the mind active, which prevents the mind from transcending. to the most refined level of thought and experience deep silence.

In this illustrative video below, filmmaker David Lynch shares his experience with Transcendental Meditation and shows how it can change our lives and increase our creative capacity.

Critiques of Transcendental Meditation

There are some controversial opinions regarding “meaningless” mantras. However, mantras, in addition to sound and vibration, have an effect on the mind through ideation and its meanings – some studies have proven this. Some teachers claim that if you take away the meaning of the mantra, it has no transcendental effect.

In addition, TM also receives criticism for the high price to pay when receiving the secret mantra and meditation technique.

Transcendental Meditation: How to do it

It is not possible to determine a step by step or suggest a transcendental guided meditation, because the technique and the mantra are secret and individual.

The TM tradition is spread only by trained teachers, who choose the mantra for each person and pass on the technique. It is believed that keeping some parts of the technique completely confidential makes it impossible for malicious persons to harm the integrity of the technique.

Below, I share some clues about how Transcendental Meditation happens:

An instructor provides an individual mantra for the practitioner, who must not share it with anyone. With it, it is possible to meditate daily. Typically, Transcendental Meditation is practiced in periods of 15 to 20 minutes. It can be done twice a day in any place and in a comfortable position, with no need for absolute silence. That is, it can be done in virtually any situation. During practice, breathing is passive, that is, there is no type of breathing control. The whole process must be done in a natural and comfortable way, without great efforts. The idea is that the mind naturally quiets down until the practitioner feels the experience of the source of thought, the quietest level, yet in a fully alert state of consciousness, also called “pure consciousness”. When the mind quiets, the body also quiets and gains the state of rest and relaxation that is deeper than the deepest period of deep sleep. This unique state of “restful alertness” eliminates stress and is the basis for increased creativity and intelligence, as well as improving aspects such as health and relationships. Practitioners usually say that it takes around 3 or 4 days of practice to start feeling the results.

Do a Transcendental Meditation

If you are interested in the subject, I suggest seeing the introductory talk given by Professor Kléber Tani, one of the directors of the International Society of Meditation in Rio de Janeiro, at the meditation event “Rio Desperta”, which I helped organize in 2018.

At the beginning of the lecture, you can have a Transcendental Meditation experience, getting a sense of the famous mantras and the feeling they cause.

Which meditation is better?

There are many meditation techniques, including Transcendental. You just need to find the one that best suits your type of mind and your moment. And surrender in practice. Meditate, meditate, meditate, everything happens.

In the case of TM, look for certified instructors and try them out. I’ve done it myself and I can say it’s worth it.

If you want to know a little more before practicing, in Águas Profundas, a book published in Brazil by (Gryphus), you find an excellent way to intimately understand the experience of diving into yourself and “fishing for ideas”, according to Lynch.

Good meditation to all!

Happy birthday!

Gunathite