Transcendental Meditation ®
"TM" as it is often known, is not taught specifically on this website because this form of meditation has been trademarked. It’s quite unusual for a meditation method to be legally protected in this way, but don’t let that give you the impression that TM is somehow superior to other types of meditation. In many respects, the standard lessons on how to meditate that you can find on this website are similar to what you might be taught by a TM practitioner...the most obvious difference is that the lessons on this website are free, whereas it can cost thousands of dollars to complete the full TM training course. The complete TM technique is taught in a seven-step course that consists of introductory lectures, personal interviews and a number of two hour instruction sessions. Personal instruction sessions conclude with each student being given a mantra which they then use for their meditation. Long term support is also provided to students of the TM program. According to Mahareshi Maheshi yogi, any meaningless sound can be used as a mantra for the purpose of training the mind to become sharp, but in the TM course, "special" mantras are selected because they have the "efficacy of producing vibrations whose effects are found to be congenial to our way of life. This is the scientific reason why we do not select any words at random. For our practice, we select only the suitable mantras of personal Gods." The exact nature of these mantras and the details of the TM training program are closely guarded secrets, which is why free lessons on transcendental meditation are so hard to come by. According to the official TM web sites, the TM technique can only be taught by authorized teachers, and the terms "Transcendental Meditation" and "TM" are trademarks that are owned by Maharishi Foundation Ltd. During transcendental meditation, the mind gradually becomes quieter until it is no longer entertaining any thoughts or perceptions, but instead experiences an awareness of pure consciousness...a state of "amness" or "pure being". In many respects, transcendental awareness is the essential goal of many types of meditation, not just TM. So even though the the term "Transcendental Meditation" has been trademarked, the actual experience of transcendence can never be. The experience of transcendental awareness is your right as a human being, and many other types of meditation can help you achieve this blissful state. Secondly, a vast amount of research into the physiological and psychological effects of transcendental meditation has been undertaken throughout the last three decades, providing ample evidence of the benefits of this form of meditation. Thirdly, TM was one of the first types of meditation to be taught in the west and it blossomed during the spiritual revolution of the 1960’s. It must also be said that the TM movement has been marketed particularly well throughout the years, and many would argue that the mystique and secrecy surrounding TM teachings have actually added to the appeal of the TM movement. It has become a highly commercialized organization that argues that its teachings yield results that are superior to other types of meditation. Whether or not this is actually true is a debate that will surely linger for many years to come.   Leave Transcendental Meditation and discover This article is copyrighted, however you have permission to reprint this article on your website, in your e-zine or in your newsletter provided that that you include the following footer whenever you do so: Article by Dr Christopher Lloyd Clarke from www.The-Guided-Meditation-Site.com.
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