What is Transcendental Meditation?
Transcendental Meditation is a simple, natural, effortless technique practised 20 minutes twice a day while sitting comfortably. It enables the mind and body to access a special quality of rest. Over ten million people of all ages, cultures and religions have learnt TM. The TM technique "allows your mind to easily settle inward, until you experience the most silent and peaceful level of your own awareness". It is completely different from other forms of meditation and meditation techniques as it involves no concentrating or focusing, no trying to "empty the mind".
During each session, people are encouraged to sit comfortably, close their eyes, and meditate by repeating an assigned mantra. A mantra may be a word, sound, or phrase, TM teacher Bob Roth, CEO of the David Lynch Foundation and author of Strength in Stillness: The Power of Transcendental Meditation, told SELF.
David Lynch, an American director, painter, musician and photographer, has been regarded as bringing the practice to popularity in recent times. Lynch met Indian guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who founded the TM movement in India, for the first time in 1975 at the Spiritual Regeneration Movement centre in Los Angeles, California. In July 2005, he launched the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and Peace, established to help finance scholarships for students who were interested in learning the Transcendental Meditation technique and to fund research on the technique and its effects on learning.
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What does Transcendental Meditation help with?
Hundreds of published research studies on Transcendental Meditation have documented its
effectiveness in reducing stress and anxiety, brain functioning, cardiovascular health, and more.
The benefits of meditation and TM practice:
- Reduce anxiety, stress and depression
- Lower risk of heart attack and stroke, lower blood pressure
- Reduce the risk of heart disease
- Provides more energy
- Increase brain function and creativity
- Reduce insomnia
- Provide a greater resilience to stress
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What is the technique involved?
Unlike other forms of meditation, Transcendental Meditation practice involves no concentration, no control of the mind, no contemplation, no monitoring of thoughts. Anyone can do it. TM is the absence of effort, you sit in whatever position makes you comfortable. For most people, this is sitting on the sofa normally as you would chatting with friends or watching TV.
Where can I find a TM teacher?
Australia actually has plenty of certified teachers and centres to teach you the form of meditation. Visit here to see where your centre is based in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and more.
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