How To Learn Transcendental Meditation

Transcendental meditation is a popular and yet highly controversial practice.

Transcendental mediation (TM) was founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In TM you are taught how to meditate (opponents call it a trance-like state) for twenty minutes, twice a day. Practitioners claim it's easy to learn, though you have to learn it from a trained transcendental meditation teacher. Proponents claim that transcendental meditation

• Decreases stress
• Improves health
• Improves relationships
• Increases self-knowledge
• Increases personal effectiveness (clarity of thought, creativity and energy)

The following are some places to learn more about transcendental meditation from a positive point of view.

1. Start by checking the official website on the transcendental meditation program (link included). This website will teach you what transcendental meditation is, where to learn it, and how it will 'help' your life. According to this website, the only place you can learn TM is through one of the teachers at the named programs. The cost is $2500.00, though they offer free introductory lectures.

2. Read The Tm Technique: A Skeptic's Guide to the Tm Program by Peter Russell. This book teaches the history of TM, and provides information about how TM can help in your daily life.
3. Read The Science of Being and Art of Living: Transcendental Meditation by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is the founder of Transcendental Meditation. This book is designed to be an introduction to learning about TM.
4. Read TM - Transcendental Meditation: A New Introduction to Maharishi's Easy, Effective and Scientifically Proven Technique for Promoting Better Health, Unfolding Your Creative Potential, and Creating Peace in the World by Robert Roth. This book explains what transcendental meditation is, why you should incorporate TM into your life, and where to take a seminar. It does not teach you how to perform transcendental meditation.
5. Check out Transcendental Meditation in the United Kingdom. Though this website is focused on teaching centers in the United Kingdom, articles include benefits, endorsements, course details and a clear explanation of what transcendental meditation is.

Transcendental meditation also has some very strong opponents. Opponents claim:

• TM classes are extremely expensive
• TM is not helpful and may actually be harmful
• TM is actually a cult

The following is some information about transcendental meditation from less positive points of view.

1. Check out the Skeptic's Dictionary. This article is opposed to TM, and feels this meditation technique teaches little for a great price. The article questions the benefits of TM, and equates the technique to a cult.

2. Read Transcendental Meditation: What do they believe? by Val Waldeck. This is a downloadable book from Amazon. This book is very well researched, questions the benefits of transcendental meditation, and compares TM to other popular cults.