As with other types of meditation, transcendental meditation (TM) changes our mental state and even our physiology well beyond the time actually spent in meditation. The intent of TM, as with most schools of meditation, is to lead you to a peaceful state of awareness where the mind isn’t continually planning, remembering, and considering. Meditator success in TM is greatly facilitated by the fact that you start your journey with training by a certified instructor and participate in group meditation sessions where you practice the learned techniques.
Um, Transcendental?
I’m in the age group that when I happened across information on transcendental meditation it sparked an association with the Beatles…wait, wasn’t that all part of some hippie movement thing? As it turns out, nobody at the class (not even the instructor) was wearing tie dyed shirts and sunglasses or flashing casual peace signs.
So just what is it that we “transcend” when we’re meditating? Essentially, transcendental meditation helps us transcend (go beyond) our thoughts, perceptions and mental activity, approaching a state of pure awareness. The term pure awareness, also referred to as “transcendental consciousness”, is defined in TM practice as when the mind comes to a state of complete mental rest while we are fully awake. (1)
So How Do I Do This?
The correct answer to this is, sign up for a TM class and go. It’s what I did, and I will never regret it. This training took my meditation to the next level and beyond. TM training introduces you to the deeper concepts behind the practice and techniques, helping students understand the correct methodology, what to expect, and how to overcome common issues or difficulties with the meditation process.
Although TM uses a mantra in its practice, it doesn’t require meditators to focus on the mantra itself or even to speak it aloud. In TM, a mantra is a simple mental anchor point that we give no thought to at all as we repeat it in our mind. During this process, as with other meditation styles, when our minds start wandering we gently guide our attention back to our mantra and let the extraneous thoughts go by without chasing them. The recommended duration of a TM session is 20 minutes, twice each day, with a brief “warm up” when beginning and a “cool down” at the end.
But How Much Does this Training Cost (and More Importantly, is it Worth it)?
Training costs are on a sliding scale, which was how I was able to afford to go. If your annual household income is $200,000+ then you pay the full amount (at the time of this writing, $960) – or, if you are below $50,000 in this area then you pay about half that. Students get a reduced cost offering, and if you are currently receiving federal assistance you can even qualify for a grant to pay part of the cost. Additionally, you can split your tuition into four monthly payments (I was able to use this option).
The cost covers four training sessions, lifetime follow up and refresher training options, and comes with a satisfaction guarantee. You will get notifications from your local TM support group of when local training sessions are being delivered and you can go again without additional cost.
My Transcendental Meditation Experience
Let me start by saying that TM training was the best thing I ever could have done to build my meditation practice into a meaningful daily habit. The fact that I paid for this training may have something to do with the significance I attached to setting aside 20 minutes twice per day to meditate.
I quickly learned that I didn’t need to be in my quiet space at home, that I could meditate anytime and anywhere. I’ve meditated at home, in my cube at work, in my truck, while fishing by the lake or along a riverbank, while sitting at the airport, and even at 35,000 feet in the air.
As a brain injury survivor, my needs are a little different than those of other people. How I am, and even who I am, can vary throughout any given day depending on a number of factors. Stress levels, attention, communication and cognitive requirements, overall mental loads – all of these factors can impact my ability to function “normally.” Even if it’s not time to meditate, taking a short TM break can restore a measure of stability for me.
My TM practice enables me to find a peaceful and quiet place, regardless of what’s happening in my mind or all around me. Our training teaches that not every meditation session will be deep and quiet, but consistency of practice brings about change – both during and outside of our actual meditation time. I’ve found this to be true in both areas. As you’ll see in the references section, there’s actually a large body of research evidence out there showing the demonstrated benefits of TM.
In Closing
TM is a foundational element of my overall meditation practice, whether that’s the particular meditation style I happen to be practicing in a given session or not. It has taught me to be patient and accepting, as well as how to allow my wandering mind to relax and let go of distracting thoughts or emotions. I’m exploring what’s out there, so transcendental meditation isn’t the only style I practice… but it’s certainly what has given me the tools I needed to create a solid foundation for investigating the many meditation techniques that are out there – incorporating what works for me and shelving what doesn’t.
References
- What does it mean to TRANSCEND in meditation?
Asheville TM Center
http://meditationasheville.blogspot.com/2016/06/what-does-it-mean-to-transcend-in.html - A Randomized Controlled Trial on Effects of
the Transcendental Meditation Program on Blood Pressure, Psychological
Distress, and Coping in Young Adults (July 2011)
Sanford I. Nidich, Maxwell V. Rainforth, David A.F. Haaga, John Hagelin, John W. Salerno, Fred Travis, Melissa Tanner, Carolyn Gaylord-King, Sarina Grosswald, and Robert H. Schneider
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3128829/ - Catecholamine levels in practitioners of the
transcendental meditation technique (Jan 2001)
Infante JR, Torres-Avisbal M, Pinel P, Vallejo JA, Peran F, Gonzalez F, Contreras P, Pacheco C, Roldan A, Latre JM
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11239991 - Transcendental experiences during meditation
practice (Jan 2014)
Travis F
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24673148 - Clinical Case Series: Treatment of PTSD With
Transcendental Meditation in Active Duty Military Personnel (July 2013)
Vernon A. Barnes, PhD, John L. Rigg, MD, Jennifer J. Williams, LCSW
https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/178/7/e836/4243566 - Transcendental Meditation in the treatment of
post-Vietnam adjustment (1986)
Brooks, James S.; Scarano, Thomas
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1986-12365-001 - Blood Pressure Response to Transcendental
Meditation: A Meta-analysis (March 2008)
James W. Anderson, Chunxu Liu, Richard J. Kryscio
https://academic.oup.com/ajh/article/21/3/310/102286 - NIH-funded Scientific Research on
Transcendental Meditation
https://www.davidlynchfoundation.org/national-institutes-of-health.html - TM Training Fees
https://www.tm.org/course-fee
I am impressed by the information that you have on this blog. It shows how well you understand this subject.
Thanks for your comments, and thanks for reading. TM was one of my most effective tools in helping me to get a handle on living with my brain injury. It helped me to combat mental fatigue and to simply feel good each day.
Now past the two year mark with my meditation practice, I’m considering looking into the advanced training options.