While meditating, the person practicing TM sits in a comfortable position with eyes closed. While sitting there, he or she silently repeats a mantra. A mantra is a meaningless sound from the Vedic tradition that’s been assigned by a certified instructor.
According to proponents of TM, when meditating, the ordinary thinking process is “transcended.” It’s replaced by a state of pure consciousness. In this state, the meditator achieves perfect stillness, rest, stability, order, and a complete absence of mental boundaries.
Proponents say the technique has many benefits for both mind and body, including:
- Clearer thinking
- Reduction of cardiovascular risk factors
- Increased longevity
- Some studies have found that regular meditation can reduce chronic pain, anxiety, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and the use of health care services but more research is needed.
Whether the health benefits of TM and other forms of meditation are real, though, is controversial. Some researchers fault the quality of meditation studies and say meditation is no more effective than health education in addressing most common health problems.
Current evidence suggests that meditation, both TM and other forms, are generally safe for healthy people. It also suggests that meditation may improve the quality of life for many. Experts agree, however, that meditation should not be considered an effective single treatment for any particular health condition. Nor should it be used as an alternative to conventional medical care.
How Transcendental Meditation Is Learned and Practiced
Transcendental Meditation is not a religion or philosophy. And it does not require any lifestyle changes. However, unlike some forms of meditation, which can be learned from a book, CD, or video, proponents say the TM technique can only be learned through a seven-step course of instruction from a certified teacher.
Tuition for a four-month course, which includes a lifetime of free follow-up, is $1,500 for adults. For full-time students, tuition is $750. Couples who study together pay $2,250. And the fee for children under the age of 18 is $375.
A TM teacher presents general information about the technique and its effects during a 60-minute introductory lecture. That’s followed by a second 45-minute lecture in which more specific information is given. People interested in learning the technique then attend a 10- to 15-minute interview and 1 to 2 hours of personal instruction. Following a brief ceremony, the prospective practitioner receives a mantra, which he or she is told to keep confidential.
This is followed by 3 days of checking for correctness with 1 or 2 more hours of instruction. In these sessions, the teacher does the following:
- Explains the practice in greater detail
- Offers corrective advice if needed
- Provides information about the benefits of regular practice
- Over the next several months, the teacher regularly meets with practitioners to ensure correct technique.
TM is practiced twice a day for 15 to 20 minutes. That usually means once in the morning before breakfast and once in the afternoon before dinner. TM does not require any strenuous effort. Nor does it require concentration, or contemplation. Instead, students are told to breathe normally and direct their attention to the mantra.
Spiritual Assessment
A spiritual assessment may help the doctor understand how religious or spiritual beliefs will affect the way a patient copes with cancer. A spiritualassessment is a method or tool used by doctors to understand the role that religious and spiritual beliefs have in the patient's life. This may help the doctor understand how these beliefs affect the way the patient responds to the cancerdiagnosis and decisions about cancer treatment. Some doctors or caregivers may wait for the patient to bring up..."
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