Transcendental meditation is becoming a hugely popular form of meditation because of the numerous health benefits associated with it. However, meditation is not a new practice; it’s been around for over 5,000 years and has roots in many different religions and cultures, including Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Christianity.
Nowadays, meditation is associated commonly with wellness and mindfulness. Meditation has many different practices: each practice aims to have a significant focus on a different element or a different outcome. This post will outline what transcendental meditation is, its benefits, and how to practice it.
What is Transcendental Meditation?
Transcendental meditation is the silent repetition of a mantra for 15-20 minutes a day. It is commonly done while sitting with your eyes closed. Nowadays, it is one of the most common practices of meditation in the world.
According to the Transcendental Meditation site, this practice is a method for achieving a sense of peace, calm, and tranquility in your daily life, while also achieving being present in the moment. It can be used to aid symptoms of anxiety, seek greater meaning, achieve a higher sense of self-esteem, or one of the many other benefits listed alongside meditation.
Why Is Transcendental Meditation Different From Other Forms of Meditation?
Transcendental Meditation is different from other forms of meditation. This is because while other forms attempt to control the mind and its thoughts, transcendental meditation aims to drive the mind toward the source of the thought. It’s based on the theory that the core of the mind is a natural calm and inner peace.
When we drive towards the thought, we go beyond the thought itself and underneath the surface level. That said, most meditations require us to change our thought processes and create an alternative way of thinking. However, transcendental is effortless and requires no concentration.
However, the most important and significant difference between regular meditation and transcendental is that a certified teacher must teach the latter. Indeed, your first four meditation sessions in a step-by-step standard instruction course must be led by a teacher.
What are the Benefits of Transcendental Meditation?
There are numerous benefits to this method of meditation. According to the Transcendental Meditation site, these include:
- Deeper inner calm
- Clarity of mind
- A healthier heart
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Addiction
- PTSD
- ADHD
The Transcendental Meditation site provides evidence and research papers to each of these claimed benefits. You can access these from here.
How to do Transcendental Meditation
As said, your Transcendental journey will begin with a certified teacher. You’ll need to take the courses required before you can practice by yourself. During your first session with this teacher, they will give you a mantra. You’re not to share this mantra with anyone. You’ll be taught how to use the mantra effectively.
This lesson will last between 60-90 minutes. The rest of the sessions will involve a small group. From this, you can meditate by yourself. However, there are free follow-up sessions, should you need extra practice. Transcendental meditation is a powerful form of meditating. It requires dedication, time, patience, and practice.
However, once the initial lessons are completed, and you know what is needed to achieve the desired outcome, this form of meditation is incredibly powerful.
