There are exactly zero requirements to successfully do TM. You only need a sound that works for you. There's a great book called 'The Relaxation Response' that has stripped all of the religious, hidden, occult or 'restricted' data from the entire TM modality - just like est/The Forum stripped every bit of the religious nonsense from Scientology and presented their core data. So, The Relaxation Response is what TM does for you. And there's exactly ZERO need to pay a teacher to learn how to do it. I highly recommend it. Full disclosure. I learned TM from a qualified teacher in 1974. Ten years later I cast off the mantra given to me and invented my own. It worked better. I'm sticking with it forever. The deep rest it provides is waaaaaaayyyyy too good to ever give up.
@@djVania08 -- any word that does not mean much to you is ok. For example: Soham (pronounced So-humm) which is actually a sanskrit word but it does not matter.
@@mossydigital6550 Until I supplanted mantra (TM) meditation with circular breathing meditation I was a TM meditator for 45 years. I got checkup for years before it became tedious and ridiculous. You're not 'supposed' to get a checkup for the rest of your life. No one has to. They SUGGEST it. If a person is incapable of running a mantra in their consciousness then they clearly need a check up to be nudged back into the practice. But ultimately, NO ONE needs a mantra given to them by a TM teacher. NO ONE. A repetitive non-nonsensical sound is all that's needed. Dr. Benson's book makes that scientifically clear.
I was taught TM, I don’t believe you need that. Look up online for mantras, pick one and start repeating that. Get to a point where you’re hearing it as much as saying it, don’t stop. If your mind wanders, no problem, just come back to it. After 20 mins you will feel better for it. Do it every day you can and you will transcend and it’s beautiful.
The mantras are important because they have a vibration that facilitates the process. I don’t mean vibration in a pixies and fairy dust manner, the vowels and consonants in your mind matter
You can teach yourself TM on you tube for free. No need to pay or join the official organizations. TM as a practice itself is more effective for me then Mindfulness. Just make up your own Mantra and start repeating it in you head. Its not hard.
If it works for you good on you but I've tried other mantras other words, the only one that pops me into that space between space and consciousness is the one I learned from TM.
Thank You. It’s a shame the TM organization seems culty because the practice is anything but. I was taught TM years ago but don’t think you need a teacher. I’ve tried mindfulness but always come back to TM because I transcend. You feel you’re falling but it’s beautiful and so regenerative. Not every time but if you do it consistently the benefits are profound.
Others have commented on this. Dr Benson’s “Relaxation response” is the TM technique pure and simple. It is exceedingly easy to learn and if you want the TM mantra a teacher would give you, you need only pull up a search for TM mantras by age and you will have what a TM teacher would give you. Not bashing your video but the TM technique can be had for the price of looking at a few web sites, watching a video on the relaxation response and taking the directions given. Mindfulness is a wonderful practice as well and I do not want my words to be construed as recommending one practice over another. Just pointing out that you can get the TM technique without paying Maharishi’s organization their very high fee for it.
I practice a form of TM called sahaj from the Art of living foundation. I found it as an effortless technique providing mmense benefits in terms of improving awareness, focus and a sense of general well-being. A huge thanks to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Sri Sri Ravishankar for making this technique available to the general public, Jai Gurudev 🙏🙏🙏
Mantras have been around for centuries...it is what prayers are based on...The Lord's Prayer is an example. TM although meditation is a monosyllabic mantra and its focus is one word provided to you at a cost...technically you can use any word with or without meaning. Great video
In one yes, any word can be used for concentration in a secular approach to mantra meditation. But from a spiritual point of view, the choice of mantra matters a lot.
@@selfinflictedjoy no it was one word with two syllables, eg. coke is one syllable but cola is two syllables, apparently the mantras and ancient Sanskrit words but they’re just chosen fro you by your birthdate etc so it’s not that mysterious, an amazing experience though
@@selfinflictedjoy People who learn TM are asked not to share details of the technique as this makes more concrete a process that becomes more abstract, thereby interfering with the process. That you are talking to people willing to share such details means that they don't understand TM even if they actually learned the practice, so be aware of that fact.
I've practiced vajrayana buddhism for over a decade and have tried many kinds of meditation. Vajrayana is also known as mantrayana because of the importance of mantra recitation. TM may include mantra recitation but not all mantra recitation is TM. I agree there is no correct form of meditation in part because there are different goals.
It does not cost 1,000 (™). ™ is paid on a sliding scale or free depending on your income. Best not to mislead. There’s a lot of misinformation here. Sorry. I’ve been meditating for decades, many styles. Consciousness type meditation is unique and absolutely fit for all to go to the unified field. Correct this review
This explanation video, which is quite informative, seems to only discuss differences from teaching and organization perspectives, but does not really inform about the applied TM 'technique' as an (almost) effortless inwardly directed process. The beneficial ratio between effortlessness and fulfilment is what makes it very worth while to learn this without a teacher!
The emphasis on effortlessness makes it a great calming and relaxation technique, but it doesn't help when it comes to some of the deeper goals of meditation.
@@Giovanni-Dienstmann I wouldn't deny that, but in relation to the effort , ^for beginners in various styles of mindfulness^ , the difference here, in contrast to TM-alike techniques, is huge!
It sounds pretty much like a marketing movement that is nothing more than the “Samatha” meditation of Buddhism which is focusing on your breath in and out, long and short (without going into vipassana). Focusing on a word (or mantra) is exactly the same process: keeping your mind on a particular cyclic object to calm your thoughts. The real difference between TM and samatha? Money.
"there is no universal best way" The problem is the concept "best" - there is nothing in meditation nor mindfulness where "best" can be applied. Helpful maybe, but again its a question of context. There are many ways on how to meditate - but in some way or form youll need a reference to use inorder to make any assessment wether or not its for you. Osho uses the relaxation after sex - and the feeling of fulfilled one can feel afterwards. I think this is a more useful way of trying to approach what meditation can do to help us. Osho is not arguing for having sex nor to pursue open relationships in this sense, rather that the state of mind one can experience, state of furfilled and without concern of the world. Is a state of mind nonetheless. But meditation can equally be a method of identifying stress or neglected anxiety - to approach these states of mind and try to pick a part where this is stemming from. Meditation is not utilitarian - yet its the primary view of the western world how to approach meditation. Its a really odd starting point, its many things not just one.
TM does give steep discounts for low income and students. I paid $800 (full price at that time). If I claimed low income, I could have paid $200. So it is expensive one-time cost but if you consider you get life-time support, it may be worthwhile. I stopped practicing TM because it did not work for me unfortunately. I don't know why. Support was excellent. When I asked for help, I got 5 personal long sessions with a TM teacher and I was welcome to have as many as I needed. But it did not help.
You didn't explain the difference at all just some insignificant babble about pricing but you didn't address how the actual practice is different. Thanks for wasting my time.
Mantras are just short Sanskrit prayers and affirmations don't be fooled into believing that they have some magical vibrations that effect your psyche. It is a million times better to say mantras in your own language.
That is one perspective out of many. And if we get attached to seeing things this way, then in fact they won't have any special quality to affect our psyche.
@@Giovanni-Dienstmann They aren't supposed to have special qualities, that's just bullshit. Saying a prayer in your own language with emotion is a million times more beneficial for your psyche than repeating some non intelligent mantra. Even Buddhist monks say you will get the same result if you use Coke a cola as your mantra. "getting attached" lol 🤡
Mindfulness is free because it doesn’t work for most. It did nothing for me. TM cost me 400$ and has changed my life. It may not be absolutely effortless but it was easy for me. I agree though that the exclusiveness is annoying. I wish TM was free. In general though I absolutely disagree with you. It’s sad to me that tm isn’t more accessible though
Yes, certainly. TM and alikes use only very little concentration, effort and even attention. Other types of mantra meditation differ in the way they use concentration, effort and attention. For instance, mixing it with meaning, visualization or devotion to a deity
What is the one that is best for people struggling in this economy? I am happy for the people that have money to spend, but I need a more salt of the Earth meditation...which by meaning coincides with free.
Then you can try other styles other than TM, until you find something that works for you. I wrote a guide to the main styles in this article: liveanddare.com/types-of-meditation/
There are some very erroneuous notions here. Firstly, TM is not a Hindu-based practice nor is does it originate from Hinduism. TM comes from the Vedic Tradition which predates Hinduism by thousands of years, and whereas it's true that Hinduism based itself on and around the Vedic philosphy, for one, Hinduism left out the practice of transcending thought, idea, concept in favour of a materialistic, 'religious' focus on, and worship of, deities. Hence, TM is not Hinduism nor is it any way based on it. Secondly, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi restores the purity of the technique of transcendening (which he called TM), but he didn't invent it, as is suggested here. He formalised it in a way that is compatable with modern life-styles. TM is not a product of the 20th Century. It is an ancient practice restored and reformulated for the modern age - importantly, without loss of its core, essential consitutient. Thirdly. there is no blanket-rate for learning TM anywhere. The price of $1000 is mentioned. This is the top rate in a tier-system of rates in the US. In the US, these rates go down to under $500 (with comparible rates - or even cheaper - in many other countries). Instalment schemes and scholarships are also offered for those in need in many countries. Next, let's explore the TM-is-not-as-effortless-as-is-claimed assertion. TM requires no effort in as much as there is no observance, control, monitoring, concentration, manipulation or attention used. TM is as efforless as an 'active' process could ever be. I have taught TM to many people who have practised every sort of meditation techniques imaginable and many are quick to comment on how "effortless" TM is in relation to Mindfulness practices and other techniques that have practised in the past. Finally, let's look at the research-claim that TM's research is soley conducted by and essentially unwritten by the TM organisation. There are approximately 700 studies that have been conducted on TM and whereas, it's true that many research scientists working within the TM organisation have conducted this research, the research has followed strict design and methodological standards, and 380 of these studies have been peer-reviewed, and have appeared in prestigious scientific journals. Some studies, such as the five year Hypertension study that culminated in 2013, were independently conducted and funded. The 2013 study was funded by the National Institute of Health in the US to the tune of $20 million. Based on the results of this study, the American Heart Association concluded that TM was the only meditation practice that it had researched which was shown to reduce high blood pressure to a statistically significant degree.
Basically, this is the official narrative of the TM movement and its followers. IT's precisely what I am criticizing here as being inaccurate. To say that a given meditation is Vedic but not Hindu makes as little say as saying that a given prayer is Biblical but not Christian.
@@meditationgio The analogy you use is not comparable since the Bible is a result of Christianity and its teaching, whereas TM is not the result of Hinduism and its teaching. By the way, an 'official narrative' is not neccesairly less correct than an external opinion. Often, but not always, it corrects for misapprehensions and just plain confusion and bias.
@@gedvalente4308 That is exactly the point where we disagree. TM was created by a Hindu spiritual practitioner and uses sanskrit mantras associated with Tantric deities. Advance practitioner will also learn the Yoga Sutras and practice for Siddhis-and Yoga is one of the 6 core philosophies of Hindu spirituality. This is as Hindu as it gets.
@@meditationgio TM was not created by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and importantly, he was a spiritual teacher who was a Hindu. In the same way that I am a TM teacher who is a Christian. Maharishi restored the central principle of the Yoga system, which is to transcend mentally to the level of the mind where the active mind meets its non-active source in an unbounded, universal state of consciousness - Yoga means 'Union', so this is the essence of the Vedic priniciple of Yoga . TM uses a universally-applicable mechanical process based on the nature of the mind to move in the direction of this ultimate fulfilment - a state of consciousness that is transcendental to thought, idea and concept. This has nothing to do with any single faith-based system BUT is the central value of all of them - if these faith systems choose to offer something beyond dogma, rituals, worship and beliefs. The principles of Yoga were absorbed into Hinduism and greatly distorted in the same way that aspects of Paganism were absorbed into Christianity and utalised to forward an ideology. The Cross and the Trinity, for example, are not of Christian-origin, they have become symbols of it. If Yoga and TM have likewise become symbols of Hinduism, every practioner of TM will just stand back and laugh at that misconception. Sasnkrit predates Hinduism by millennia. So Sanskrit mantras, which are used in TM, are used for their vibrational value, not for materially-attributed values bestowed on them by Hinduism .... way, way down a rabbit-hole time-line.
@@gedvalente4308 Your reply is common narrative of the TM movement-and this is what I criticize in this video. You are basically just repeating the same narrative without providing any evidence ("it is so because it is so" type of argument), while there is plenty of evidence to the contrary if you trouble to read what the whistleblowers of the movement have to say. TM is portraited as ancient and yet non-Hindu, so it can be successfully marketed in the West. It's as simple as that. Also, from your answer it is obvious that you have actually never read the Vedas; if you did, you will see how much "Hindu-ness" there is in it (fire sacrifices, magical prayers, worship of deities, etc.). I am personally very connected to the Hindu way of looking at things, so I am not criticizing Hinduism. I am only criticizing the lack of honesty about the nature and origin of the practices, as marketed by the TM movement.
I don't try to hide that I don't have a high opinion of the organization, philosophy, and founder. Having said that, this is not a "teardown" video, but me sharing some facts and points of view that rarely are shared around TM. If TM works for you better than any other meditation, that's great! Continue the practice.
@@meditationgio some good points. Although if anyone has heard of TM the reputation of the organization is not far behind. I feel many would pass up TM because of the baggage, that’s a shame
TM is amazing and you are correct it is totally different from mindfulness meditation. You can't just get it out of a book. It needs to be taught by an authentic TM teacher. I learned it in 1969 and the cost was $30. I have done it off and on all that time, trying many different types of meditation over the years. I always come back to TM. I am not a fan of the TM organization--don't have anything to do with it other than getting a periodic "Checking", It is a bit weird and cultish for my liking. It's the technique itself that is what I endorse. I would even pay $1000 to learn it today if I had to, I guess having worldwide training centers costs money to upkeep...
It is a bit insincere to replace all Buddhist meditation techniques with the word mindfulness. Really, the label "Mindfulness" is not stated in the Buddhist traditions. Also, this "advice" you suggest that "mindfulness" (whatever that is) recommends 30 minutes per day comes from????? I have never heard that from any Buddhist tradition. Finally, it is also a bit insincere to suggest that "mindfulness" is free. There is something called MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction), and that is learned via paid courses.
I appreciate your (apparently) well-intentioned criticism. There are indeed many different meditation techniques in the Buddhist tradition, mindfulness practice (a re-spin on Vipassana) simply being just the most well-known of them. It is free in the sense that you ARE able to learn it without paying anything. The same cannot be said about TM. Finally, the recommendation of 30 minutes of daily practice for Mindfulness is just a reflection on how it is being taught in modern times, especially by Mindfulness-Based secular programs such as MBSR.
I'm going to call my meditation 'mantra based meditation'... if I have to follow rules in order to call it transcendental meditation..then ...well, I'm not.
May be you misunderstood Bhudda never teach the mindfulness The most important Bhudda had founded the enlightenment or the reverse side of the mind Yes he taught meditation to strengthen your mind power No need to concentration on the breath and this is found before Bhudda era The most important is calm your mind strengthen your mind power
I prefer the more active approach of repeating it in our mind. After some months/years of practice, you could switch to listening to it instead. However, with this second approach it's more likely that the mind loses track of the mantra and engages in thinking.
@@Giovanni-Dienstmann i found repeating it just has it stuck in the mind never disappears and just just gets stuck their … and i faintly think the mantra as faintly as the random thoughts that come into my mind. But trying to practice hearing the mantra sound which slowly disappears and am left with no thoughts or mantra. But needed some tips to improve this method . Also can you help me with what episode you were talking about at the 2:20 mark about TM I couldnt find that episode on your list . Thank you!!!
@@nagodio You may have found a mantra that works really well for you. In some versions of mantra meditation, the purpose is precisely to take you to the silence that lies on the other side of the mantra. If that is what you are seeking, and you are naturally getting it in the way you are practicing, I would stay stick with it. Just be aware that the silence doesn't turn into unawareness. I explore this concept in-depth in this article: liveanddare.com/process-of-meditation/
@@Giovanni-Dienstmann could you help me out on what episode your talking about at the 2:20 mark on TM please i search you library but wasn't able to find it what episode# or title.
@@nagodio It was episode #65 of Master Your Mind video series. I had removed it from RU-vid because the TM organization likes to hunt down these videos and threaten us. But I believe I still left it in my FB page or IG page, though it will be hard to find it there, since it's from 2019.
U can only speak from your experience as you are limited to the practices u have experienced and nothing more. Its clear that you have very little understanding of the actual meaning and benefits of TM. NO i am not a practitioner or promoter of TM i am one who has risen above all methods, doctrine and dogma.
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