Transcendental Meditation is a secretive mantra meditation movement founded by an indian yogi/guru. Most research on meditation benefits is on TM. To learn it, one has to pay for and participate in a course led by a certified TM teacher.
Does anybody here have had experience with TM, participated in a course and received a mantra chosen by their teacher?
Do you really need a teacher to learn it? Is the course worth it or just profiteering? Anything else one should know before going to a course themselves?
It’s literally just repeating a phrase in your mind over and over again, i.e. basic concentration meditation, except a mantra instead of your breath (or whatever object you prefer).
The only “secret” is how effectively they part gullible people from their money.
You want the TM experience? PayPal me $2,000 and I’ll give you a “special” mantra phrase (chosen just for you by a 14th century reincarnated spirit and/or ouija board and/or monkey throwing a dart at the wall) and you can go nuts with it.
Not trying to make fun of anyone, but TM is your classic, boring scam/cult. I’m sure you can find their “secret” mantras if you google hard enough. It’s baloney wrapped in mysticism with some TM-funded studies to lend more credibility. Truth is, meditation – of any form – is generally good for your mind and body. There are hundreds of meditation techniques, they all serve to soothe the nervous system, concentrate the mind, and/or bring mindful awareness.
Definitely not worth paying for. If you want to do it, just pick a phrase “peace”, “relax”, whatever, and silently repeat it to yourself for 20 minutes. That’s all they’re doing.