Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental meditation derives from Bhavatiya meditation, mantra yoga, or chanting yoga. During transcendental meditation, a peaceful mantra is repeated that resonates to a person and their nature. In some cases, the mantra is given by a guru or teacher.
Unlike mindfulness meditations, which encourage one to clear their mind and be in the present moment, transcendental meditations focus on achieving internal peace and spiritual renewal by repeating powerful mantras in a quiet place. Transcendental meditation goes beyond one’s “thoughts”, and instead invokes deep feeling and increased awareness in order for one to achieve pure bliss.
Benefits of Transcendental Meditation:
Helps improve emotional stability.
Brings mental and emotional clarity.
Increases creativity.
Helps strengthen one’s memory.
Improves mood.
Alleviates stress and anxiety.
Known to help with insomnia.
Sharpens intelligence.
Heart health and lowering blood pressure (is even recommended by the American Heart Association).
Overall, this type of meditation has been found to be helpful for depression, insomnia, addiction treatment, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention-deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and even Alzheimer’s.
Can anyone learn transcendental meditation?
According to an official Transcendental Meditation website, this style of meditation is usually taught for four consecutive days by a certified TM teacher. However, do not be discouraged if working with a certified teacher is not something you would like to do right now. There are many books, and videos on youtube that are available to make this meditation practice possible.
Transcendental mediation is typically practiced for 15-20 minutes twice a day.
Want to get started?
To begin this meditation, sit in Padmasana or a comfortable chair/cushion, place your feet on the floor, and keep your hands on the lap.
Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths as you begin to relax your entire body.
Open the eyes, and close them yet again to feel your awareness continue to shift.
Then proceed with your eyes closed throughout the 20 minutes of the meditation.
Repeat a mantra silently in your mind with concentration.
This mantra can be a Sanskrit sound that you received from a Transcendental Meditation teacher/Guru, or it can be from a book or video. Typically the mantra has no meaning, this way you are not focusing too much on the word itself. Instead, the mantra helps leads your awareness within, as your mind begins to settle.
The mantra isn’t supposed to be about repetition or concentration, but more about allowing your mind to settle down to quieter levels of thinking.
After your 20 minutes practice of TM, start to wiggle your toes and finger to bring your attention back to the touch of your seat.
You may also sit for a couple more minutes until you feel prepared to carry on with your day.
