The history of Transcendental Meditation begins with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1950s. He developed transcendental meditation practices as an offshoot of Hindu meditative practices of repeating mantras and emptying the mind of conscious thought so as to be enlightened.
Maharishi Mahesh learned from Guru Swami Brahmananda Saraswati and spiritual leader Jyotir Math, two Hindu leaders. Transcendental meditation takes this practice further, seeking spiritual renewal by spending 15-20 minutes 2-3 times a day in meditative repetition of an uplifting, positive mantra. While meditating, you will want to empty your mind of all conscious thought beyond the repetition of the mantra. This will allow you to discover a truth that is unique to you and only you, a truth that will bring you contentment, peace and healing.
Maharishi opened his first transcendental meditation teaching center in the 1970s. At this time, the world was somewhat skeptical of his claims that transcendental meditation could be of significant benefit, but over 600 studies have been conducted since then, and the benefits of this form of meditation are well documented. Commonly cited benefits are lower stress, lower cortisol levels in the blood stream, a sense of well-being and contentment, higher levels of creativity, improved concentration, better problem-solving skills, and improved overall health. Maharishi has taught classes on how to practice his form of meditation since the 1950s, retiring in 2008 after over 50 years of teaching. Maharishi died a month after he retired.
Many celebrities practice transcendental meditation; even a political party, the Natural Law Party, bases its foundational philosophy on the teachings of Maharishi. You can find transcendental meditation schools and retreat centers all over the world. While the cost to attend can be high, the schools turn out satisfied customers who bring in more believers. This is a very popular method of meditation with a following of over five million people around the world.
 | Whether you go it alone, join a meditation group or work with a teacher, there are many benefits of meditation like helping reduce stress, lowering your blood pressure and improving your outlook on life. |
 | The objective of Zen meditation is to quiet the mind and facilitate a deeper understanding of one's inner self. |
 | The effects of meditation on the mind are now, through recent studies, revealing that those who meditate really do have keener focus, better recall and even improved immunity against disease and depression. |
 | If your attempts at learning to meditate always more closely resemble naptime, take in these tips on reaching a relaxed state without falling asleep. |
Zen Buddhism and Meditation Zen Buddhists place an emphasis on learning about the nature of human existence and learning to cope with it. It may be hard at times to live in this difficult world but Buddhists try to accept the world for what it is. |
