Transcendental Bliss: A Journey into the Profound Benefits of Transcendental Meditation Practice

Are you looking for a form of meditation that, though rooted deep in spirituality, is free from religious moorings? Are you here looking for the meditation technique that once turned The Beatles into its ardent followers?

If your answer to these questions is yes, then you will find this article helpful. Here, we will take you through the benefits of transcendental meditation and familiarize you with its essentials.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi developed and started teaching the transcendental meditation technique in the 1950s. It found its way into popular Western culture in the 1960s and 1970s, partly due to the Maharishi rendering it a non-religious garb and partly because of its adoption by The Beatles and The Beach Boys.

Transcendental meditation is based on silently repeating a mantra for about 15–20 minutes, twice a day, as you sit with your eyes closed. It is believed to promote relaxation coupled with awareness, provide relief from stress, help you develop into a better version of yourself, and help attain elevated states of consciousness.

In the very own words of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, “By enlivening this most basic level of life, transcendental meditation is that one simple procedure that can raise the life of every individual and every society to its full dignity, in which problems are absent and perfect health, happiness, and a rapid pace of progress are the natural features of life.”.

Here are some of the positive effects of the transcendental meditation technique:.

According to a study looking at the effects of this practice on stress responses and related hormone levels, transcendental meditation can be beneficial against chronic stress. Here, the level of the stress-related hormone cortisol decreased and the cortisol responsiveness to stress increased after the four-month-long program. Both of these developments are in contrast to the effect of chronic stress on the cortisol hormone, thus highlighting the effectiveness of transcendental meditation in stress reduction.

Chronic stress is related to the development of conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, obesity, and diabetes, which are significant factors behind mortality and diminished quality of life.

The transcendental meditation technique can be effective against substance abuse as well as against those conditions that promote addiction—anxiety, emotional instability, depression, and other psychological issues—according to a scientific review of 39 studies conducted over a period of 30 years.

Proponents of transcendental meditation claim its effectiveness in accelerating spiritual growth and enlightenment. It is believed that this technique enables a practitioner to attain higher stages of consciousness. In the yogic traditions, a total of seven states of consciousness are believed to exist, the first three being the basic states of sleeping, dreaming, and waking consciousness. The four higher states of consciousness that can be attained through the practice of transcendental meditation are:

• Transcendental consciousness: A state of calm, undisturbed by the happenings of the outside world
• Cosmic consciousness: The ego disappears and inner consciousness takes its place
• Divine consciousness: The journey toward the true self or the atman, commences
• Unity consciousness: Realization of the oneness of the true self and the universal consciousness

According to a study on PTSD-diagnosed veterans, transcendental meditation mantras can reduce the symptoms of PTSD. Here, 29 participants, comprising both male and female veterans, were subjected to an eight-week-long individual or group-based meditation program.

The participants reported a reduction in the symptoms of PTSD, along with improvements in mindfulness and quality of life. The positive effects of transcendental meditation on PTSD were found to persist through a follow-up period of two months after the program.

Transcendental meditation can help prevent heart disease by positively impacting the multiple factors that lead to it. These include:

• A reduction in blood pressure
• Lowered use of tobacco and alcohol
• Decreased cholesterol levels
• Reduced psychosocial stress

The positive effect of transcendental meditation on these factors boosts cardiovascular health by reversing the thickening and hardening of arteries due to the buildup of plaque on their inner lining, preventing the reduction of blood flow to the heart, and thickening the muscles responsible for pumping blood.

Having appreciated the benefits of this technique, we will now equip you with some transcendental meditation mantras to get started with your spiritual quest.

When you enroll yourself in a program on transcendental meditation for beginners, you will get acquainted with the use and significance of mantras. A mantra is a word or phrase that is repeated silently or out loud to help concentrate during a meditation session. Mantras are also believed to possess special spiritual powers that the meditating person can leverage. Here are the five common mantras that can be made a part of your transcendental meditation practice:

1. Om: Promotes inner harmony
2. Aim: Boosts creativity
3. Shreem: Brings in prosperity
4. Kleem: Promotes harmony in relationships
5. Aing: Enhances wisdom and intellectual capabilities

Transcendental meditation is a popular spiritual practice due to its easy technique and various benefits to physical and emotional health. To get to know the best transcendental meditation practices, it may help to consult a certified teacher in your locality. Though you can combine transcendental meditation with standard medical treatment, the former should not be viewed as an alternative to the latter. Instead, approach this technique with a purely spiritual objective and accept any other positive effects as additional benefits.