Transcendental Meditation: Health & Spiritual Growth Benefits of Techniques

Transcendental meditation (http://www.tm.org) popularized by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, is one of the many forms of meditation prescribed in the spiritual teachings of the Vedas (the scriptures of knowledge) of the Hindus for attainment of ultimate bliss (Nirvana).

To understand transcendental meditation techniques, an understanding of the Vedic philosophy (http://www.vedanta.org/wiv/philosophy/oneness.html) is essential. The philosophy states that consciousness is blissful and is the very state of our being. This consciousness pervades the cosmos and is witness to all experiences in the sphere of life. We see and experience the body, mind and intellect due to this consciousness. We see them as entities separate from the subtler self - this is evident when we say things like - "my mind is dull", "my hand hurts", etc. What is seen (hand, mind, etc.) cannot be the one who sees (the self).

Yet there is also a feeling of identification of the subtler self with them (the self also feels one with the body and mind). Now, the material pain, joys, sorrows and thoughts act only in the field of the body, mind and intellect. But when the self feels identified with this body-mind complex, the being suffers.

If experience of the distinction between the self and the body-mind complex can be brought about, the individual senses liberation from worldly turmoil - there is an experience of the blissful state of the true self and happiness not conditioned on anything material. It is this kind of experience that Vedic meditation techniques attempt to deliver.

Transcendental meditation techniques do this by having the person simply witness the mind and the state of the body (practice of the principle - what we see cannot be the self). It is about being effortless for efforts are in the domain of the body, mind and intellect and not actions of the self. The self is merely aware and watching. There is no attempt to concentrate or focus on something. It is restful awareness.

But of course for the novice seeker, even when relaxed, the mind keeps working in the midst of meditation - "Are my kids back from school?", "Did they have their lunch?", "Hope they are not up to any mischief!", "I will get them lovely gifts this Christmas", "They mean the world to me", and so on. This chain of thoughts where each thought is linked to the former is a calculated effort of the mind and intellect. When awareness of such an ongoing effort arises, the TM seeker uses a special Mantra to disperse the act of being strenuous - being one with the vibration of the Mantra for a few seconds centers the seeker again.

Each Mantra is related to a specific Chakra in the body and channels the cosmic energy accordingly. The Mantra is usually a syllable such as Lammmmmmmmmm", "Rummmmmmmmmm", etc. The Mantra should be obtained from an advanced seeker who has experienced the deeper states of existence; only an advanced seeker can judge the nature of the seeker's mind and spirit and select the mantra most suited for his/her spiritual advancement.

As the seeker progresses, different experiences arise. Though effortless, disconnected thoughts may occur - "It will rain tonight", "I have to read today's news", "Where is my wallet?". Or unconnected images may arise. There could be visions of colors and even experience of fragrances. The very advanced seeker experiences the subtler layers of consciousness and rapturous bliss.

At the start, the seeker experiences a calm mind some days and an agitated mind other days. But with practice the mind gradually calms down. And it stays calm even after the meditation throughout the day. Strong emotions like anger, frustration, sorrow etc. tone down in intensity because the seeker is now more aware of them rather than being swept along with them blindly. So when anger arises, the seeker watches it for a few moments and like a wave, it ebbs away. You watch it and do not ride with it.

As a byproduct of seeking the subtle consciousness through Transcendental Meditation techniques, you experience innumerable health benefits. With emotions better controlled and deeper levels of physical relaxation, the body has less stress and an enhanced ability to self-heal. Research has been conducted on TM by more than 200 Universities and their findings have been published in many pestigious journals like Journal of Clinical Psychology, Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, International Journal of Neuroscience, Psychosomatic Medicine, American Journal of Physiology, etc. A comprehensive list of the journals, the publications and their findings is given in http://www.mum.edu/tm_research/tm_charts/welcome.html. Some of the researched benefits are listed below.

- Decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases and blood pressure
- Increased life expectancy
- Increased comprehension, creativity and intelligence quotient
- Improved academic performance
- Decreased use of drugs and alcohol
- Overcoming addiction
- Depression and stress-free living

A complete list of researched benefits is given in http://www.mum.edu/tm_research/research.html. How long it will take to see health improvements varies from person to person. But healing is distinctly faster when the seeker practices regularly with dedication and faith.

I have studied this meditation technique from a teacher and have been practicing it for several years now. I have described the technique below. However, note that the description is no substitute to formal initiation and direct instructions from an accomplished teacher.

- TM is done twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening.
- You may use a meditation stool or a chair. Find a spot where you will not be disturbed. Turn off your cell phone. Do not use leather accessories (wrist watch, belt, etc.) as they interfere with the flow of energy in the process.
- Set up straight with spine erect. Close your eyes and experience the vibrations of your mantra once as your begin. Initially you may visualize yourself as chanting it. As you practice it gets subtler - it feels like a sound coming from within and later you feel only its vibration.
- Be effortless for the duration of the meditation. When connected thoughts arise, use the Mantra again. Otherwise be restfully aware and witness the actions of the mind.
- Do not use a jarring alarm clock to indicate the lapse of 20 minutes for it can be bothersome if you are in a deep state of consciousness. Let the body clock figure the time.

Some seekers practice Yoga and special breathing exercises prior to meditating as this enhances the ability to calm a wandering mind. This form of meditation is taught by many spiritual schools based on Indian philosophy under different names. It costs between $200-$2500 to learn this art. Art of Living (http://us3.artofliving.org/dcmetro), a humanitarian organization with international presence teaches 'Sahaj Samadhi' which is very similar to the Transcendental Meditation techniques.