Transcendental Meditation

Driving home from work, I was listening to the Howard Stern show on my satellite radio, and I caught part of a discussion on this particular form of meditation. Being the first time I have heard of this, I was naturally curious and started looking up some information regarding TM, as it is popularly called. So far I am reading a lot of good reviews about TM, especially coming from previous skeptics. According to the TM website there has also been medical links between TM, resulting I. Lower Bp rate, and other beneficiary results. I was wonder if my fellow Jedi have heard about TM. What are you views on TM, personal experiences, or reviews from other people you know that have tried TM.

I do it. It costs a lot of money to learn, but the technique works better than pretty much any other form of meditation I've tried (and I've tried a lot).

A lot of people think the TM movement is like a cult, and for some TMers it certainly can be, but it doesn't have to be. I took the initial course, I practise the technique... and that's it.

They mentioned that on the show. One fellow stated after two weeks he stopped, did not see any results, and felt cultish. The other had been practicing it for years and never felt any cult like behavior?

What about TM makes people view it as "cultish"? Tries finding the techniques and how to practice it on their website but it constantly states it can only be learned in person.

Yes, it's that secrecy which some people don't like. But from experience keeping it private and personal seems to be one of the reasons the technique works for so many people.

Our teacher likened this to planting a seed... if you keep digging the seed up to have a look at it or show it off it will never grow into a mature plant.

Personally I understand they want it kept private as it's a very simple technique which allows them to make lots of money and keep going as an organisation. I don't find it any more cynical or cultish than any other organisation providing training for money - but just like other trainers copyright their material, because TM is taught orally they make you sign an agreement not to pass the technique on before they teach it to you.

I also don't subscribe to a lot of the explanations they give of why or how it works, but that's fine with them. It works, whatever your belief about why.

The secrecy ensures these "teachers" get paid, and they should be ashamed of themselves. There is more than enough free information on the internet to give one who is sincerely interested in this technique a good head start. I've done both TM and a common technique of Asana meditation & yoga and the effects are very similar, but do require daily effort to obtain...

Personally I understand they want it kept private as it's a very simple technique which allows them to make lots of money and keep going as an organisation. I don't find it any more cynical or cultish than any other organisation providing training for money - but just like other trainers copyright their material, because TM is taught orally they make you sign an agreement not to pass the technique on before they teach it to you.

I have yet to witness this behaviour in other educational organizations.

How many orally transmitted techniques with specific practical reasons for not recording the technique are you aware of?

I was entirely skeptical but in essence, they took something I knew about and had had very patchy results with, and made it work, for a sum of money. Yes, it's available online, but I doubt that would work in the same way. Something about it, the way it's specifically provided by the course seems to work for people. Quite similar to paying for any decent course vs researching something yourself online, really. Yes, the difference is you're not allowed to pass it on. If that works for you, go for TM. If not, don't. I haven't nor would I suggest anyone else do it - but in 4 sessions it gave me a continuing, working meditative practice, which had eluded me for about 15 years.

There's no good reason it shouldn't be free besides human greed, but I could say the same about any number of things. I'm quite happy to pay for things if they work, and it does.

Considering knowledge is more or less central to Jediism, I doubt I will ever "understand" the merits of restricting said kowledge to any particular organization. The greatest educational institutions in this world don't do it (that's how we know they're great), and even sometimes give it away for free.

tzb wrote: Something about it, the way it's specifically provided by the course seems to work for people. Quite similar to paying for any decent course vs researching something yourself online, really. Yes, the difference is you're not allowed to pass it on.

Not allowed to pass it on? And what exactly are the repercussions if one does so, lol. You're correct however, it's difficult (but not impossible) to learn this technique on one's own without one on one guidance.

Asana meditation however does not, and has VERY similar effects on the body and mind, and can be done without one on one instruction once the technique is learned, and it's relatively simple. Anyone interested pm me. Requiring another to fork over one's hard earned cash for enlightenment IS wrong, but that's just my personal opinion...

TM is a trained skill that can be learned. It takes practice and dedication. I myself am a believer as well as a practitioner. The point to everything is why. Why does one do it, and what benefits are there? If this is what you seek find out what are the pros and cons and wether or not it is right for you. I promise that if you ask any one who does practice they will tell you the same, its not for everyone, and the benefits are different for each individual as well as the insights. Pm me any time for further insight friend