Meditation is not a means to an end. It is both the means and the end - Jiddu Krisnamurti
Are you struggling to cope with life's stress? Is work pressure keeping you up all night? Do you seek peace of mind in the middle of a crazy day? You can try meditation at home. There are several types of meditation that you can start with, but as beginners, it is best to start with some basic meditation techniques like mindfulness, breath control, and exercises to calm your mind.
Transcendental meditation, on the other hand, is a more evolved form of meditation. To realize the meditation benefits of this type, you will have to delve deep into how this type of meditation evolved, and how it can help improve the quality of life. This article will address some of these questions to get you started.
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What is Transcendental Meditation?
Transcendental meditation is one form of silent mantra meditation, curated and propounded by the Transcendental Meditation Movement. It came to the fore in India under the able guidance of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the mid-1950s. Transcendental meditation sessions promote a high level of self-awareness by relaxing your mind and reducing stress. When you meditate with the help of this technique, it is said that you can reach a higher level of consciousness. It is also known to reduce physiological disorders like heart diseases and high blood pressure.
The Maharishi built this form of meditation by drawing from the teachings of his master Brahmananda Saraswati. Mahesh Yogi travelled the whole world between 1958 to 1965 to teach thousands of people the nuances of transcendental meditation. In the '60s and '70s, the Maharishi formalized meditation classes in this form when he gave it a more technical structure. Many celebrities joined the movement, most notable among them being The Beatles and The Beach Boys. The Maharishi also ensured that he was offering meditation sessions to people who could take the work ahead like teachers, leaders of businesses, and others.
The Transcendental Meditation Technique
If you want to practice transcendental meditation at home, you will have to rely on the "mantra" or a silently-used sound. Typically, you have to dedicate 15 to 20 minutes of your time, twice daily to meditate using this technique. This is a non-religious meditation movement that can be practiced by anyone who is looking for meditation benefits for stress reduction, and self-development.
A Brief History of Transcendental Meditation
The Transcendental Meditation program and the movement as well, originated under the guidance and leadership of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The Maharishi started sharing his ideals and teachings publicly since 1955, when he started touring the world. It was a traditional technique that taught people how to meditate, and control the mind, that was essentially derived from the teachings of his own master, Brahmananda Saraswati.
The Maharishi called this Transcendental Deep Meditation, which he later renamed to Transcendental Meditation (TM).
Slowly and gradually, the TM technique was taught to other mentors and teachers through the teacher training program, which would help accelerate the rate at which more people were reached out to. The exposure thus received, along with endorsements by celebrities, who adopted the practice through their personal meditation sessions. Today, TM is being taught and practiced by millions of practitioners worldwide. And while you will find different types of techniques to meditate, the transcendental meditation method has remained relatively unchanged.
The Spiritual Regeneration Movement and the International Meditation Society have made significant contributions in promoting this technique. Today, many schools and universities have also integrated this meditation practice in their curriculum for betterment of students.
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Transcendental Meditation Sessions vs Other Forms of Meditation
The thing about meditation is: you become more and more you - David Lynch
Transcendental meditation is a little different from other types of meditation. Like other types of meditation, this form also has its unique techniques and methods, which need a sound understanding and time to learn. To understand this a little bit, take a look at two other popular forms of meditation.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
MBSR is a popular stress reduction method used in meditative practice. Both MBSR and TM have been found to be very effective in stress reduction, and both have a direct impact on the brain's gray matter, which is directly related to stress levels. Both are also effective in promoting positive psychological outcomes like self-acceptance. MBSR, however, is found to be more effective when it comes to boosting immunity, or even increasing longevity. Other studies find that MBST helps in countering anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Simple Meditation Methods
You can also opt for other, simpler meditation at home like aromatherapy, that involves bringing your focus on the scent sensations. This is a sub-type of mindfulness meditation, and offers similar meditation benefits. You can also opt for a quieter meditation session that enhances the listening sensations - also a mindfulness meditation practice.
For beginners, these are the basics to start off meditation with as compared to TM. Yoga is another form of meditation that anyone can start and engage with.
Health Benefits of Transcendental Meditation Classes
The meditation benefits of Transcendental meditation (TM) span across the mind, body, and spirituality. It can improve your life in the following ways:
- Stress Relief - Transcendental meditation is known to reduce PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and work-related stress by balancing the nervous system, hormonal levels, and increasing brain coherence. This prevents the body to react with strong emotions to adversities, thus reducing stress.
- Increases Work Efficiency: Those who meditate using TM, have been known to improve on leadership abilities, interpersonal relations at work, contentment with their jobs, effectiveness at work, and general health.
- Improves Performance at School: In children, TM helps to improve cognitive and intellectual performance that directly impact academic performance. It also helps to reduce negative social behaviors, and school-related depression, anxiety, and stress.
- Controls Blood Pressure: TM also improves the health of people with heart diseases and hypertension, across all ages and demography. It can regulate and control high blood pressure, thus normalizing bodily functions.
- Reduces Risk of Heart Disease: Lowered blood pressure directly impacts heart health, and prevents the development of heart diseases like hypertrophy, myocardial ischemia, metabolic syndrome, congestive heart failure, and atherosclerosis.
- Helps to Quit Smoking: If you meditate regularly, it can help to get rid of addictions like smoking. Because smokers tend to associate smoking with high levels of stress, and since TM helps to reduce stress, practicing TM meditation at home can be beneficial in quitting smoking.
- Treats Alcoholism: Just like smoking, regular practice of transcendental meditation can also treat alcoholism, by improving the emotional well-being of an individual.
- Counters ADHD: Like many other forms of meditation, TM can also fight ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in children and adults. This is possible as TM improves brain functions, helps to bring focused attention, improves organizational skills, promotes independent working, and improves quality of sleep.
- Promotes Healthy Relationships: This is a direct outcome of all other meditation benefits of TM. When you are at peace with yourself, you can find the time and energy to invest in your relations.
- Enhances Intelligence: Many scientific studies have been conducted to check the relation between transcendental meditation classes and intelligence. And the findings support the impact of TM on improved information processing, greater ability to build successful relations at work and in personal life, and improved cognitive functioning.
In the end, meditation at home can only be beneficial if you are dedicated and consistent with your meditation sessions. Like any other form of meditation, transcendental meditation also requires time investment and sincerity. And the true meditation benefits can only be realized if you are true to yourself.
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Those who practice transcendental meditation may experience a decrease in stress and anxiety within minutes. As with other forms of meditation, long-term practice can lead to even more positive changes, including resilience to stress, lower overall anxiety, and even greater life satisfaction.