Transcendental Meditation

Transcendental Meditation, also known as TM meditation, is a very simple, natural, and effortless technique of avoiding distracting thoughts and letting your mind settle down into an extremely calm and wise state of rest. The TM meditation technique has been derived from the ancient Vedic tradition of India.

One interesting fact about TM meditation is that the famous English music band ‘The Beatles’ were a big fan of this practice who had traveled to India in the 1960s to learn it. And since then it’s popularity has been on the rise especially among the Western world. What may have been once considered something for the hippy set of culture has become a growing trend in the wider world. No wonder it’s the most popular type of meditation around the world, and also the most scientifically studied.

Unlike other meditation techniques that usually focus on breathing or chanting and clearing your thoughts, TM meditation encourages a restful state of mind that goes beyond thinking. That is to say, you learn to go beyond the surface level of your awareness. Moreover, it’s one of the relatively easiest and quickest meditation techniques to master. This practice is effective for everyone, especially for busy minds like us.

What is Transcendental Meditation?

The person practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique sits in a comfortable position and silently recites mantra repeatedly. The mantras used are often Sanskrit sounds or words. This mantra can be different for every individual based on their personal characteristics and expected to be a good fit.

Transcendental meditation or TM may not be a mantra-based meditation because its main core is directed towards transcending, though this meditation technique may involve the use of mantras. Mantras are used in this technique as a vehicle to help the mind settle down. The aim of focusing on your mantra is to achieve a state of perfect stillness and consciousness. This constant focus of mantra channels your mind on a single mantra that is repeated over and over again.

TM meditation technique has been found to be greatly beneficial in health conditions related to stress, brain function, and cardiovascular system. Just spending about 20 minutes twice a day on this meditation will produce great effects.

Science of Transcendental Meditation

The TM meditation seems to turn on the whole brain and make it function as a holistic unit. This common feature can be observed in those people who report peak performance in art, sports, or business. Scientifically proven to be a stress buster, the positive effects of the Transcendental Meditation practice are usually evident from the initial session itself.

How to Practice Transcendental meditation

Consider taking the journey of Transcendental Meditation by finding a certified and experienced TM meditation teacher. Ideally, TM meditation is practiced twice daily, one before breakfast, and the other before dinner. Here’s how a typical TM meditation practice proceeds.

1. Take a comfortable chair to sit on with your feet on the ground and hands in your lap. Keep your back and neck straight. (a good thing about TM is that you can meditate anywhere you like such as on a couch, on the subway, at work cubicle - anywhere you can sit your eyes closed)
2. Close your eyes. Then take a few deep breaths to relax your body and mind. 
3. Open your eyes and then close again. Keep your eyes closed during the 20 minute session. 
4. Repeat a mantra silently in your head at no particular rhythm. Typically, the mantra would be a Sanskrit word. 
5. Let the mantra focus your attention, and allow your thoughts to wander. Because, this meditation technique does not require focusing your mind like other meditation practices.
6. You may experience moments of transcendence, a pleasant feeling of restful alertness.
7. After 20 minutes, begin to gently move your fingers and toes to bring yourself back to the present world.
8. Open your eyes slowly. Do not hurry.
9. Continue sitting a few minutes until you feel ready to continue with your day.

Benefits of Transcendental meditation 

The benefits of Transcendental meditation cover every aspect of our life. Its wide-ranging benefits are as follows:

1. Transcendental meditation can put your goals into perspective. This technique will allow you to put your goals into perspective and reevaluate what truly matters to you in life.
2. This meditation will uplift your mood and mental state. It will enhance your ability to cope with stress and instead of simply dwelling on problems, you’ll learn to deal with them and solve them. This in turn will build a positive mood in you.
3. With daily practice of TM meditation you cultivate higher consciousness. That means, your spiritual growth becomes simple and easy. You will be able to enjoy an enlightened state of awareness even in the midst of worldly enjoyment or dynamic activity.
4. It can lower your blood pressure and curb the risk of heart disease and stroke. 
5. Last, but not the least, TM Meditation can help in weight loss. By decreasing your stress levels, it will curtail your temptation to stress eat. Moreover, it can help reduce your food cravings, since it helps in balancing your mental and physical state.

Imagine just sitting quietly in a chair for a few minutes of very enjoyable deep meditative relaxation could leave you in mental and physical bliss, with a calmer and more alert mind, and increased energy and clear thinking.