Transcendental Meditation or “TM” was first introduced into the United States in the late 1960s. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Lynch, Stevie Wonder, Deepak Chopra, Mia Farrow and Howard Stern have all learned and practiced Transcendental Meditation. It’s a form of meditation that uses a mantra, which is a sound meant to invoke a sort of inner calm or feeling of “transcendence.” To transcend means "to elevate" or "to go beyond", and is usually used to refer to the domains of thought, perception or, as existentialists would say “beingness.”

The effects of practicing Transcendental Meditation are multifarious and range from heightened sensory perception to improved health to reduced stress, anxiety and depression. In addition, regular practice of the technique is said to result in heightened intelligence, greater clarity, more creativity, better communication skills, and more success in interpersonal relationships.

Practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation technique and those affiliated with it, loosely refer to themselves as “the Movement.” Currently there are over five million practitioners of TM throughout the world. The Movement consists of all races and religions (Hindu, Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, etc.) and it is common knowledge throughout the community of mediators that the technique is not a religion; some even call it a science, or “the Science of Creative Intelligence.” The center of the TM Movement is located in Fairfield, Iowa. It’s a small town of approximately 10,000 people, and nearly half of them practice meditation. The town is also home to a university - the Maharishi University of Managementhttp://www.mum.edu/, named after the founder of the Movement, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The university prides itself on “consciousness-based education,” and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. All the students attending the university practice Transcendental Meditation.

The actual method that is taught when a newbie first learns the TM technique is proprietary - that is to say, secret. What is known is that there is a process by which the newbie is “initiated”. The initiate is asked to bring fruit and flowers, in addition to a check for $x amount, payable to their “teacher” who, among other things, gives the initiate a mantra. The technique is taught in one day and then “checked” for two additional days to make sure that all questions are answered and the new meditator is comfortable with the technique. The teachers of TM are also taught in a systematic and proprietary manner. Their instruction is quite expensive and lasts for a period of weeks. The teachers of TM are called “governors,” and are trained to pass down the exact same knowledge that was acquired and delivered via teachers from thousands of years ago. They are not allowed to change or interpret the instruction in any way, since the knowledge they are presenting to the new initiate is very precise and the authenticity of the original teaching must be maintained in order for it to be effective.

According to the Transcendental Mediation movement, “The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple, natural, effortless process practiced 15–20 minutes twice daily while sitting comfortably with eyes closed. It allows your mind to settle inward beyond thought to experience the source of thought, the most silent and peaceful level of consciousness—your innermost Self.” http://www.tm.org/meditation-techniques

In addition to the basic TM technique, there are a variety of advanced meditation techniques, as well as methodologies for optimizing your health using the principles of Ayur Veda and creating harmony in your home using principles of Sthapatya Veda.

The most common advanced technique is called the TM-Sidhi Program. In order to be accepted into the Sidhi Program, you must meet certain requirements, including being drug and alcohol free, having good references from several TM teachers, having practiced TM for a certain number of years and being true to the practice, which means not disclosing any “secret” information about the teachings. The Sidhi program is taught during several weeks in which you will live on site and learn the technique in a group-like setting with men and women in separate groups.

There are only two teachers who teach this advanced technique; the instruction is always the same and it is very specific. At the end of the course, you will graduate, thereby becoming a “sidha,” which will enable you to practice the technique in a bigger group within the Golden Domes http://goldendome.org/ with other members who, like yourself, are also sidhas. In the domes, everyone practices the same technique, which includes “yogic flying.”

According to the Maharishi School, yogic flying is described as such, “The most powerful aspect of the TM-Sidhi program is called Yogic Flying. During the first stage of Yogic Flying, the body lifts up and moves forward in short hops. Internally, the experience is accompanied by a feeling of exhilaration, lightness, and bubbling bliss. During Yogic Flying research shows significant positive correlations between the abundance of alpha EEG coherence in four regions of the brain and the experience of Transcendental Consciousness. This coherence and integration of brain functioning is maximum at the moment the body lifts into the air.

When Yogic Flying is practiced in a group, this influence of coherent brain functioning creates a positive and harmonious influence in the environment, reducing negative tendencies and promoting positive, harmonious trends in all areas of society. Scientists have called this phenomenon the Maharishi Effect and it is the basis for the program to create world peace,” http://archive.maharishischooliowa.org/educationforenlightenment/tm-sidhi.html

The TM Movement, in addition to practicing meditation regularly, also advocates Ayur Vedic health principles and Sthapatya Veda architecture. http://www.tmscotland.org/mav/sthapatya-veda.html Ayur Vedic health is a non-invasive, non-prescriptive alternative approach to health care that focuses on balancing the body through detoxification and rejuvenation. It is based on the notion that there are three doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) that underlie all aspects of physiological functioning. It these doshas are out of balance, then dis-ease and ill health occurs. When the doshas are in balance, then you will enjoy good health, strength, vitality and mental clarity. Each individual has a natural constitution where one or two of the doshas predominate. Based on a person’s dosha type, certain foods are recommended, and others are to be avoided. Various supplements are offered in accordance with Ayur Vedic principles that are meant to benefit many common conditions. http://www.mapi.com/maharishi_ayurveda/products/herbal_supplements/index.html

Sthapatya Veda is also part of the Vedic tradition. According to the Maharishi Sthapatya Veda website, It is “the world’s most complete system of architecture and planning. It takes into account the influences of the sun, moon, stars and planets.” http://www.sthapatyaveda.com/introduction/frameset.html . If you ever get a chance to visit Fairfield or the MUM campus, you will notice that all the buildings are facing the same direction - East. This is because the sun rises in the east and according to Vedic tradition, you should align yourself with the sun. In fact, there is a new town bordering Fairfield called Vedic City http://www.vediccity.net/, in which all the houses were designed according to Vedic principles. Not only do all the houses face east, but all of the rooms in each of the houses are in the exact same order. There is a proper place for the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and of course meditation room. It is believed that aligning yourself (and likewise the architecture of your home and the rest of the city) will produce prosperity, good luck, health and happiness.

The TM Movement is much more than just meditation. We can see that it comprises all areas of life from the orientation of your home to the food that you eat, to how you spend your day. The overall philosophy is one of balance, harmony and prosperity.