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Transcendental Meditation TM
Transcendental Meditation is a specific and wonderful technique of mantra meditation that has been discovered and developed by the great and famous Gurudev Shri Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 20th century. I have been initiated at young age while I was a teenager and later in my life I became initiated again for the second time.
I have tried a lot of mantras and meditations, but I must admit that Maharishi 's technique and insight still is the best and most effective of all meditation techniques.
The mantras that are used are derived and modified versions of the originial Sanskrit Tantric Shakti Beej Beeja Bija Mantras (AIM or AING for Godess Sarasvati, SHRIM or SHRING for Godess Laksmi, HRIM or HRING for Godess Maheshvari and KRIM or KRING for Godess Kali) which are commonly found in the books and traditions of Tantric Hinduism.
Maharishi has modified these sanskrit mantras in a specific way such that they are very easy to think. By this modification the mantras also possess a very special quality : the have the specific quality to be thought and experienced at finer levels very easily in comparison to the original Sanskrit versions (see above) and also in comparison to other thoughts or objects of meditation. It is his genius and accomlishment that he discovered and developed this.
The modificated mantras are :
SHRIM or SHRING (original sanskrit version) becomes modified (TM version) : SHEAREENG or SHEAREEM
HRIM or HRING (original sanskrit version) becomes modified (TM version) : HEAREENG or HEAREEM
KRIM or KRING (original sanskrit version) becomes modified (TM version) : KEAREENG or KEAREEM
AIM or AING (orginal sankrit version) stayes the same : AING or AIM
SHYAM (original sanskrit version) becomes modified (TM version) : SHEAYAM
Correct Pronuniciation : the "EA" is pronounced as the "EA" in "HEAR" or "EAR"
the "EE"is pronounced as the "EE" in "DEEP" or "KEEP"
the "A" in SHEAYAM is pronounced as the "A" in "ARMY"
Method of giving the mantras :
In TM the mantras are given according to the age at the time of initiation :
For the age group below 24 years : AING or AIM is used
Age group between 24 and 35 years : SHEAREENG or SHEAREEM is used
Age group between 35 and 45 years : HEAREENG or HEAREEM is used
Age group between 45 and 55 years : KEAREENG or KEAREEM is used
Age group of 55 and above : SHEAYAM is used
Initiation Ceremony :
For optimal results and benefits it is necessary that you are initiated by a TM teacher. A small ceremony is done in which the blessing is asked for the one who is initiated. It is my personal experience that this initiation ceremony is absolutely necessary for getting good results with the meditation.
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The main principle during Transcendental Meditation is thinking the mantra effortlessly :
"In this meditation, we do not concentrate, we do not try to think the mantra clearly. Mental repetition is not a clear pronunciation, rather it is a faint idea. We don't try to make a rhythm of the mantra. We don't try to control thoughts. We do not wish that thoughts should not come. If a thought comes, we do not try to push it out. We don't feel sorry about it. When a thought comes, the mind is completely absorbed in the thought. And if at any time you seem to be forgetting the mantra, don't try to hold on. Whenever we forget the mantra, we come back to to it very quietly. It is a very simple and natural process.
"When we become aware that we are not thinking the mantra, then we quietly come back to the mantra. Very easily we think the mantra and if at any moment we feel that we are forgetting it, we should not try to persist in repeating it. Only very easily we start and take it as it comes and do not hold the mantra if it tends to slip away.
"The mantra may change in different ways. It can get faster or slower, louder or softer, clearer or fainter. Its pronunciation may change, lengthen or shorten or even may appear to be distorted or it may not appear to change at all. In every case, we take it as it comes, neither anticipating nor resisting change, just simple innocence."
"There is no need to try to stop thinking because thoughts are a part of meditation. Even if the mind is filled with other thoughts while the mantra is going on, there is no conflict. Our concern is with the mantra, and if other thoughts are there along with it, we do not mind them and we don't try to remove them. We are not concerned with them, we innocently favor the mantra."
"Noise is no barrier to meditation. Even in a noisy market, it is possible to be thinking thoughts and whenever we can think, we can meditate. So one can think the mantra comfortably even though aware of outside noises. We just innocently favor the mantra and do not try to resist noise in any way."
"Even with some discomfort we should be able to meditate, for anyone who can think can meditate, and even with some bodily discomfort, it's our experience that we do not lose the natural ability to have thoughts."
"One thing is very important, that we do not try to meditate. We do not try to keep the tempo of the mantra the same, nor do we try to change the tempo. And, we do not concentrate against thoughts we might have, or against noises we might hear. We do not r esist thoughts, we do not resist noise, we do not resist the mantra changing or disappearing, we do not resist anything. We take it as it comes. It is a very simple, natural, innocent process. When we meditate at home, we start with half a minute sitting e asily. That means, close the eyes about half a minute and then start the mantra easily. And when we want to end meditation then we stop thinking the mantra inside, but do not open the eyes for about 2 minutes. This is very important that we start with half a minute of silence and end with 2 minutes of silence."
Below here I offer you some questions which may aid you in thinking the mantra effortlessly :
1. " When we close our eyes, naturally we feel some quietness, some silence, yes ?"
2. "Did you feel some quietness, some silence ?"
3. "Did you have any thoughts in that silence ?"
4. "Did you notice how spontaneously, how effortlessly these thoughts come?"
5. " Did you notice that a thought comes naturally, effortlessly and spontaneously?"
6. " Did you notice that thoughts come without any effort?"
7. This is how we should think the mantra effortlessly. We close our eyes and sit easily. After about half a minute, we begin to think the mantra in that same effortless way as we think other thoughts.
Aum Gurudev Shree Maharishi Mahesh Yogi kee Jay | |
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Advanced Techniques
In Transcendental Meditation there are several advanced techniques that can be used to meditate.
The advanced techniques consist of adding a prefix and/or suffix to the basic mantra.
The prefix can be : "Shree" or "Shree Shree" with the "Sh" as pronounced in "Shrimps and the ""ee" as pronounced in "we".
The suffix can be : "Namah" or "Namah Namah" with the "a" pronounced as the "e" in "The" or "a".
For example :
If you basic mantra is "Shearing", then the advanced mantra's can be :
Shearing Namah
or
Shree Shearing Namah
or
Shree Shearing Namah Namah
or
Shree Shree Shearing Namah
or
Shree Shree Shearing Namah Namah
or
Shree Shree Shearing Shearing Namah Namah
You can start with "Shearing Namah", if "Shearing" is your basic mantra. And after meditating for some minutes you can continue with "Shree Shearing Namah", after some minutes you can continue with "Shree Shree Shearing Namah Namah" and after some minutes you can continue with "Shree Shree Shearing Shearing Namah Namah"" according to your own need and feeling. It is no problem to switch between the basic mantra and the different advanced mantra's during meditation. One of the advanced techniques also consistes of thinking the mantra in the Heart area (bottom of sternum) form time to time (second or minutes) with a soft focus on that area. You should follow your own need and feelings.
Meaning of "Shree" and "Namah" :
"Shree" signifies "Shakti", "Light", "Abundance", "Energy", "Life", "Kundalini", "Nourishment" in the more abstract sense of the word. In a more concrete sense it also means "Lakshmee" or The Godess of Wealth and Beauty.
It is a very powerful word. By adding this word as a prefix to the mantra results in more joy and enjoyment during meditation and the basic mantra becomes very powerful. "Shree" feels like Sweet Nectar. "Shree" touches and caresses the Kundalini Energy in our energy-body (astral or pranic body) and that is why we experience is as "Sweet Nectar or Sweet Honey". "Shree" nourishes our body and mind.
"Namah" means "bowing down to", "surrender yourself to", "give space to", "let That Other Principle Be""
It is a very good word to conclude the prefix and the basic mantra, because it also delimits the Prefix and the Basic mantra. By this means we get an complete and very powerful advanced mantra.
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Nadi Shodhana Pranayama :
This is an additional technique to facilitate the practice of the Transcendental Meditation. By doing this kind of pranayama the meditation becomes easier and the experiences during meditation become more clear and profound.
The Nadi Shodhana Pranayama is the easiest pranayma and also the basis of all other pranayama techniques.
By practising this pranayama the energy channels in the subtle/astral/energy body are cleaned. This is very important, because the condition of our subtle body has a direct effect on the condition of our physical body.
If there are impurities in our subtle body, this can cause disease or imbalance in our physical body. Also, impurities in our subtle body will have a clouding effect on our mind and daily consciousness. Meditation can clear these impurities, but combined with this Nadi Shodhana Pranayma the benefits will be multiplied.
Technique :
Sit with an erect spine at a chair or at your bed or your sofa. Use alternately the thumb and the ring+little finger of your left or right hand to switch between the left and right nostril (altenate nostril breathing), while the other hand can rest on the knee and can be used for counting the number of cycles.
In this example the left hand is uses for closing the nostrils.
Close the right nostril with the ring finger of the left hand. The little finger rests upon the ring finger. Breath out through the left nostril in a comfortable way, neither too fast neither too slow. Then inhale, in a comfortable way, through the left nostril until the lungs are full and close also the left nostril with the thumb for just one second. Then immediately open the right nostril by releasing the ring finger and little finger and exhale, in a comfortable way, through the right nostril until the lungs are empty. Wait one second and then inhale through the right nostril until the lungs are full again, keep the air in again for one second and exhale again through the left nostril.
This completes one cycle of the Nadi Shodhana Pranayama.
For an minimum effectivity it is necessary to do at least 4 or 9 cycles. For example you can do one round, consisting of 4 or 9 cycles, in the morning, and one round in the evening.
It is best to practise this pranayma after meditation. Meditation makes our mind rest in Consciousness. By Pranayama our Consciousness is set in motion.
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lexy
Vitarka
Posts 1
Points 1
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Hi
I have been meditating for 18 years, religiously. I transcended deeply for about two weeks but since then I have never transcended. I've sort of given up hoping for that feeling they call bliss consciousness but would like to do something which would point me towards that direction. Can you guide me?
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Maybe it is too late ...unless you still check in. I did TM for 30 years. We had to be solitary meditators in the East Block. So Whe I got to the organisation seven years later, I was fascinated by the sidhis but I did not buy all the philosophy.
Thank you for posting this and PSM - brave person - and still revering the source.
I would have a few practical questions about Prim Sound later in case you are still here. (What is the difference between the standard TM instruction and this? We were even told to allow ourselves to bend forward if we are tired. Then in 1991 I discovered teachers no longer said this in my adopted homeland.)
My experiences were mostly great, I later learned one of the AT-s and Sidhis. The AT threw me up to the surface - I guess I am super-vata. (Plus I had experimented with psychdelics earlier). The Sidhis I liked but still ... I kept on missing the quietness of my first solitary years. No nonsense. I was attracted to Vedic Chanting and learned a bit off the heart.
During the last seven-eight years I began to face some problems I never had before (at least they usually took care of their own and disappeared). No good experiences, forgetting all, sitting for hours awake and frustrated. It is possible that the increased radiation around us is partly repsonsible for this. I have had stressful times too - I could point at the jyotish times, I am a professional jyotishi.
OK, so last summer I approached a yogi who was with Maharishi then he went to do other Vedic meditations and became a pandit. He also talked about MMY with great respect, however, he recommended I did a sequence of Mahamrityumnjaya Mantra, Shivashakti and Durga mantras. I started that day, and to my surprise I got quieter much better. In my enthusiasm I even learned a Ganpati Stuti from atharva Veda as a chaser for this transcendental feeling.
This lifted off a great weight from me. I used to solve every problem with meditation as well. I had an interesting and adventurous life in several continents so far. I also got into Buddhist mysticism, Reiki, Chi Kung, and authentic mantras and signs.
There was a weird feeling when I wanted simply to do TM recently. I just did it as relaxed as I could but the day after seemed usually very harrowing, expecially for my wife. Obviously I was not doing something right - she does it time to time but she cannot get much good results from it - more from Zen. We could say that we became sort of possessed. It was clearly better to simply pray in whatever way. Planet poojas, mahamaantra etc. Then I discovered your description of PS technique. Well, I got my beeja sound intuitively already since I did some Buddhist rituals and then watched my dreams after that. What do you think?
Appreciating your contribution - maybe this is a little too much at first.
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