Is Transcendental Meditation a Con? A Deep Dive
Transcendental meditation (also known as TM) is a popular way of meditating that is becoming more and more mainstream. The technique has been endorsed by a number of celebrities including Jerry Seinfeld, David Lynch and Hugh Jackman just to name a few.
Some people say that transcendental meditation is a unique meditation technique that must be taught by an accredited transcendental meditation teacher. Others say it's simply another spiritual practice being marketed and sold as a commodity.
So, is transcendental meditation a con? An overpriced scam? Or is it a unique meditation practice that can truly only benefit those who have the money to learn it through the Maharishi Foundation USA?
In this blog post, we will explore both sides of the argument to find out what the truth is.
Transcendental Meditation: An overview
Before we dig deeper into this claim, let's first explain what transcendental meditation is and how it can benefit you.
What is Transcendental Meditation?
The Transcendental Meditation technique is a very popular meditation practice that was introduced in India back in 1955 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
Guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was a meditation teacher and guru, responsible for bringing the TM technique to the West in 1959 where he began teaching it to students worldwide.
He is considered one of the most important spiritual leaders of our time by many people who have been touched by his teachings all over the world including celebrities such as John Lennon and Clint Eastwood along with other well-known figures from various walks of life, scientists, business professionals and educators alike.
It's taught around the world to many people, via private lessons with an accredited TM teacher or through group courses called "satsangs."
Many people who have learned the technique to date claim that it has helped them improve their daily life, health, sleep, as well as gain a better understanding of themselves.
Benefits of TM
There are a number of benefits of Transcendental Meditation including:
Improved mental and physical health
Better relationships with yourself and others around you
A reduction in stress levels
One of the aspects of TM that has helped it gain so much popularity is the large body of scientific literature that backs up many of its claims. I won't go into detail on the studies here but a quick Google search will reveal an array of research into how effective the technique is at reducing stress and even reducing the risk of heart disease.
What's involved?
It involves sitting comfortably for 20 minutes twice each day (once in the morning and once before bed) while silently repeating your mantra throughout. A mantra is simply a word, phrase or sound that you repeat out loud or in the case of TM, silently. It gives your mind something to concentrate on in order to calm your thoughts and centre you.
Using mantras can be traced back thousands of years by ancient civilizations such as India who used them frequently in their universal life energy practices.
Is Transcendental Meditation a scam? Let’s take a closer look
Up until now, you're probably thinking "this meditation technique seems great, and it obviously works - how can it be a scam?". Well, the debate isn't that TM is ineffective. It's more that it's not something that you need to pay for in order to reap the benefits.
In fact, many experienced meditators and people who have paid to learn TM themselves say that TM is nothing more than basic mantra meditation.
Learning the TM technique from an accredited teacher can cost you anywhere from $420 - $980 based on your income level (see the chart below). I should note that there are also grants available that could bring the price down.
Transcendental meditation pricing. Source: https://www.tm.org/
I'm not an accredited TM teacher (obviously) so everything I'm laying out here is just my opinion based on my research. But I have to say that paying hundreds of dollars to learn basic mantra meditation isn't necessary.
As one Reddit user who responded to a thread about the authenticity of TM meditation put it:
“It’s like going to H&R Block to have your taxes done when you qualify for a 1040EZ. They’ll do your taxes just fine, but there’s no reason to pay someone else so much money for something that’s simple as pie and free to do all by yourself.”
And I tend to agree with this sentiment. I have no problem with paying to learn a technique that can benefit my life. It's no different than paying to attend a yoga class. You are paying for that teacher's experience to guide you through complex poses and the social experience of the class.
Similarly, in TM you are paying for an experienced meditation teacher to teach you a useful meditation technique and to guide you through your journey. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with that. But it doesn’t mean that transcendental meditation is “better” or “more effective” than regular meditation techniques that you can learn for free.
But mantra meditation, the basis of TM meditation (even if the organisation won't openly admit it), is something that you can easily learn yourself. For free.
You don't need an "accredited teacher" or celebrities to make meditation work for you. Just an open mind and a dedication to your practice.
Meditation is about spreading peace and reducing suffering in our world. Packaging it up and selling it as a commodity just doesn't sit right with me.
Professor of contemplative education at Brooklyn College, David Forbes, had this to say about the topic:
“As more and more people make money off of mindfulness, I think it corrupts the spirit of the tradition and practice. I think it becomes more and more a product like any other in our society, and I think it becomes more an individualistic pursuit”
Personally, any spiritual practice that has a registered trademark next to its name is something I am naturally sceptical of.
How to do mantra meditation
Mantra meditation is a great alternative to TM meditation (or the very basis of it depending on who you ask).
The technique is simple and free for anyone looking to reduce anxiety and stress, improve their health and become more mindful in their day to day lives.
Choose a mantra. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as it's some word, phrase, or sound you repeat either out loud or in your mind. It's best not to choose a term that has a strong emotional meaning for you. "Om" or "Ahum" are good mantras to start with. There are many others to choose from.
This mantra will act as the anchor for your attention. Your only goal is to focus on this mantra. By maintaining a soft focus on the manta you will break out of the cycle of getting caught up with your thoughts and identifying with them.
Simply sit in a comfortable position. Cross-legged or in a chair. It's up to you. Choose a space that is comfortable for you where you won't be distracted. You can either close your eyes or leave them open.
Now repeat your mantra, keeping your attention on it. When you start to notice that you are lost in a thought or a feeling, gently bring yourself back to the mantra. You might find yourself doing this over and over. That's okay.
That's the entire point of this practice - to notice when your mind has wandered and to bring it back to your mantra.
If your mind is racing you might want to repeat the mantra faster with less space between repetitions. As your mind begins to settle the spaces in between repetition will naturally become longer and longer. It’s in these moments you will experience stillness.
Check out my article "How to Do Transcendental Meditation for Free" for more information along with a video walkthrough of this technique.
