Transcendental meditation: Nature and perspectives

Pages: 928-933
Sangeeta Trama and Navreet Cheema (Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)

Transcendental meditation refers to a specific form of mantra meditation called the transcendental technique and an organization called meditation movement. The transcendental meditation technique and its movement were introduced in India in the mid 1960 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1918-2008). Transcendental meditation is a systematic technique that allows mental activity to settle down to a silent state of awareness where the mind is calm, collected, yet fully awake. This state is the simplest form of human awareness. It is pure consciousness, a state of “self-referral” awareness open only to its own full potential. The transcendental meditation technique involves the use of a sound or mantra, and is practiced for 15-20 minutes twice per day sitting comfortably with the closed eyes. It is said to be a means of relaxation and stress reduction. A surface definition of transcendental meditation pictures it as natural practice of relaxation of 20 minutes period twice each day. During the process, one repeats the words, known as mantra, in such a way that its rhythmic repetitions aid the relaxation effort. Transcendental meditation has its roots in Hinduism. All of its teachings about reality, God, Man, salvation are from the Vedas. The inclusion of the ritualistic initiation ceremony and the use of the secret mantra in transcendental meditation are in beeping with the mystical practices of the cults of the East. Maharishi explains the benefits of the technique in religious rather than scientific language. It is manifestly evident that transcendental meditation is religious in nature because of the ideas upon which the technique is built. Its theological pre-suppositions are those of Hinduism. Clinical studies have suggested that transcendental meditation helps reducing blood pressure (Brook et al., 2013); anxiety (Paradies, 2006); and promotes cognitive performance (Shapiro & Walsh, 2003); self-actualization (Walsh, 2007); positive personality growth (Shapiro & Walsh, 2009).Thus, it is evident from above that transcendental meditation may have far-reaching beneficial effects on wellbeing-related outcomes of individuals, groups, and institutions. Hence, spiritual practices such as transcendental meditation must be promoted right from childhood to facilitate the development of a healthy, mature personality.