How To Learn Transcendental Meditation

By Victoria W. Bergman


Sitting in a field of flowers, legs crossed, wrapped in white cloth, the sweet smell of incense wafting through the air. That's what most people think of when they hear the word: meditation. But what we see and hear in the media is not always an accurate picture of reality. The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple mental procedure that is practiced for twenty minutes twice per day. It has been learned by millions of people and has been the subject of hundreds of research studies. But just what is Transcendental Meditation (or TM) and how does one learn it? Here are some of the details regarding the TM technique and its practice.
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In our current reality, doing nothing (or non-doing) is seen as a ridiculous waste of time. There's money to be had, and sitting around watching your thoughts is seen as a perfect way to miss out on making it. We're here to tell you that this couldn't be further from the truth. Your thoughts act as a lens through which you perceive reality. In this way, they guide and shape all your decisions and actions, and in turn, either make you money or make you lose money. Therefore, if you want to make a lot of money, learning how to control and alter your thoughts is of vital importance. This is where meditation comes into play. Meditation allows you to step out of your thoughts and watch them as an observer. It enables you to understand your thought processes and patterns of thinking. And it is only once you understand how you think, that you can begin to change what you think.

Concentration-In a concentration technique for self development a person might be asked to focus on a candle, to eliminate all thoughts, to visualize something or to focus on a particular thought, part of the body etc. Then, whenever the mind wanders from the candle or the visualization etc. the concentration technique requires that we bring our attention back to the point or topic of focus i.e. candle etc. The TM technique however, is unique and different in that it does not involve any concentration or focus. Transcendental Meditation is a completely effortless technique in which the mind flows naturally and purposefully to the field of creative silence (or Pure Consciousness) at the source of the mind. This happens spontaneously and naturally, with out effort, when one practices the Transcendental Meditation technique.Breathing-Many meditation techniques focus on the rhythm of the breath. The TM technique does not focus on the breath or its rhythm. Instead TM utilizes the minds own natural tendency to move towards greater peace and silence within in the same way that gravity causes a stone to sink through the water in a pond. In this same way, the mind is spontaneously and naturally drawn deep inside during the TM practice, independent of what may be going on with the breath.

The technique of TM is easy and effortless. It is also unique and profound. Because each person has different experiences during their TM course and also learns at a different pace, personal instruction by a certified TM teacher is vital. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of the TM technique, in his book The Science of Being and Art of Living explains it like this: "The practice of Transcendental Meditation must always be given by the expert teachers of Transcendental Meditation who have been properly trained to give it and who have been trained to check the experiences. The checking of experiences is a vital point in the practice of Transcendental Meditation. Again, it cannot be done through books."

I learned the TM technique from a qualified TM teacher when I was a senior in high school. Since then it has given me thousands of hours of inner peace and tranquility. It has made me a better person and a more effective human being. I hope that you will also have the opportunity to enjoy it soon.Transcendental Meditation, TM and Maharishi are registered or common law trademarks licensed to Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation and are used under sublicense.The Transcendental Meditation technique may be an effective and safe non-pharmaceutical aid for treating ADHD, according to a promising new study published this month in the peer-reviewed online journal Current Issues in Education.

People might tell you this is cheating, that meditation requires a lot of effort and years of practice. This is bull. People who tell you this are scared of change, and they usually have their egos attached to meditation. To reach the deepest levels of meditation you have to be willing to try new methods and techniques until you find one that is right for you. We've found that after using these audio programs for three weeks (in the morning and before going to sleep) we've been able to slow down and analyze our thoughts on a regular basis. This means we can now begin to change the thoughts we have to the ones we want to have. This will be the basis for our next article, but for now you should have an idea of what you have to start working on. Here's what you have to do:

"Medication for ADHD is very effective for some children, but it is marginally or not effective for others. Even for those children who show improved symptoms with the medication, the improvement is often insufficient or accompanied by troubling side effects," Stixrud said. "Virtually everyone finds it difficult to pay attention, organize themselves and get things done when they're under stress. So it stands to reason that the TM technique which reduces stress and organizes brain function would reduce ADHD symptoms." While in some cases a child cannot function without medication, there is growing concern about the health risks and side effects associated with the common ADHD medications, including mood swings, insomnia, tics, slowed growth, and heart problems. In 2006 the FDA required manufacturers to place warning labels on ADHD medications, listing the potential serious health risks.

These high risks and growing concerns are fueling parents' search for alternatives that may be safer for their kids.The study was conducted in a private K-12 school for children with language-based learning disabilities. Participation was restricted to 10 students, ages 11-14, who had pre-existing diagnoses of ADHD. About half of the students were on medication. The students meditated at school in a group for 10 minutes, morning and afternoon.To determine the influence of the TM technique, at the beginning and end of the three-month period, parents, teachers and students completed standard ADHD assessment inventories measuring stress and anxiety, behavior and social competency, and executive function. Students were also given a battery of performance tests to measure cognitive functioning.

You may be wondering what is transcendental meditation and what makes it different from other forms of meditation? One of the most exciting elements of the transcendental meditation technique is that it so simple and easy to practice. With the right focus and dedication, you can learn transcendental meditation in a matter of moments.

Everyone noticed the change," Andy added.Grosswald explained that there is substantial research showing the effectiveness of the TM technique for reducing stress and anxiety, and improving cognitive functioning among the general population. "What's significant about these new findings is that among children who have difficulty with focus and attention, we see the same results. TM doesn't require concentration, controlling the mind or disciplined focus. The fact that these children are able to do TM, and do it easily shows us that this technique may be particularly well suited for children with ADHD," she said.This study was funded by the Abramson Family Foundation and the Institute for Community Enrichment.A second, recently completed TM-ADHD study with a control group measured brain function using electroencephalography (EEG). Preliminary data shows that three months practice of the technique resulted in significant positive changes in brain functioning during visual-motor skills. Changes were specifically seen in the circuitry of the brain associated with attention and distractibility. After six months TM practice, measurements of distractibility moved into the normal range.A third, $2 million TM-ADHD study, to be funded in part by a grant from The David Lynch Foundation, will more fully investigate the effects of the technique on ADHD and other learning disorders.

No other meditation technique has been so extensively studied and researched. During transcendental meditation, the brain falls into a theta brain wave pattern (akin to sleep and deep relaxation), which then carries over to the state of wakefulness. Physical benefits include increased mental comprehension, focus, retention and creativity. Another interesting benefit is the actual reversal of the aging process. In a study conducted by the International Journal of Neuroscience, the biological age of practitioners of transcendental meditation was, on average, twelve years younger than their chronological age. Transcendental meditation also has positive effects on age and stress related conditions such as insomnia, high blood pressure, decreased visual acuity, hearing loss and depressed cerebral blood flow.

Facts about The Transcendental Meditation technique.The Transcendental Meditation technique is an effortless technique practiced 10-20 minutes twice a day sitting comfortably with the eyes closed.TM is not a religion or philosophy and involves no new beliefs or change in lifestyle.Over 350 peer-reviewed research studies on the TM technique confirm a range of benefits for mind, body and behavior.Several studies have compared the effects of different meditation practices and found that Transcendental Meditation provides deeper relaxation and is more effective at reducing anxiety, depression and hypertension than other forms of meditation and relaxation. In addition, no other meditation practice shows the widespread coherence throughout all areas the brain that is seen with Transcendental Meditation.The Transcendental Meditation technique is taught in the United States by a non-profit, educational organization.




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