Meditation for Women

The 50 Best Moments For Women In 2011, what about meditation?

2012-01-01T13:02:00.001-08:00

As we celebrate the successes of women in 2011, I'd like to add a small but notable achievement for women in my town. We have a women's meditation day every month, where women of all ages and backgrounds come together for group practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique. At our meetings we discuss how meditation empowers us, gives us greater clarity, energy, compassion and balance. As women,we're finding a few minutes of silence everyday makes our voices stronger.

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Occupy Consciousness: Healing the Collective Mind

2011-11-27T06:51:00.001-08:00

We all want a better world, yet like many we don't have time to protest for social change. What if there was a way to uplift the collective mind through our own consciousness? Not by thinking about it, but by transcending to the deepest, most silent level of unity where we're all connected.

In support of social change, there's another powerful approach, one that's complimentary to all viewpoints -- an approach essential to social evolution, yet so quiet it's easily drowned out amid the general media's focus on the obvious and sensational.

That approach: meditation.

"Change Begins Within"

Real change begins within. Our world is as we are. It will always be necessary to affect responsible change on the outside, but whatever good can be accomplished in society depends on the quality of heart and mind of those creating the change -- individually and collectively.

Besides, everybody needs to dissolve stress, and research shows that effective meditation is the most powerful stress buster there is. Stress wears you down. It clouds your mind and diverts you from right decisions. Doctors say it can kill you. And the total stress of all individuals coalesces to become collective stress--affecting the overall quality of life in society.

Imagine: countless numbers of people across the country, in their homes or together in meditation halls, sitting, closing their eyes and transcending, experiencing a level of consciousness where we're all interconnected. What if, by silently stirring this underlying, unified field, an influence of orderliness and cooperation could be created throughout collective consciousness -- dissolving social tensions and relieving government gridlock, stimulating economic confidence and supporting positive change? Learn how to meditate

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Dr. Oz recommends meditation for heart health, high cholesterol and diabetes

2011-09-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

Meditation is emerging as a powerful stress-buster. Research shows that it can have health benefits equivalent to or better than some of the leading medications for reducing high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Dr. Oz, a meditator himself, talks about how the Transcendental Meditation technique reduces the three main risk factors for heart disease.

"As a heart surgeon, I see the effects of stress on the heart as the leading cause of death in the Western world. This meditation, we believe, can help a lot of people. It's important to understand exactly how TM reduces stress and stress-related disorders."

Stating that high cholesterol is the first major risk factor for heart disease, Dr. Oz cited a one-year study on people with high cholesterol who practiced the TM technique. The study found that cholesterol was reduced by 10 percent, or 30 milliliters. "Now, if you are on medication for cholesterol, we hope you can get 30 milliliters lower," he said.

The second risk factor for heart disease, cautioned Dr. Oz, is high insulin or diabetes. "A randomized clinical trial funded by the NIH found improvements in insulin resistance, glucose and even insulin levels themselves, after just four months of TM practice, in over 100 people who had coronary blocks. This dramatic change was significantly better than just teaching people about their health."

Meditation also helps reduce hypertension -- the third main risk factor -- according to a randomized control study on people suffering from high blood pressure. "Those practicing the TM technique had a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, of 11 and 6, respectively. Those are big numbers. We don't get these kind of results all the time with medications."

The outcome of a long-term randomized trial on patients with coronary heart disease showed similar promise. Those practicing the TM technique during this 10-year period were found to have 47 percent less incidence of mortality, heart disease and stroke. "This impact in the TM group is stunning -- unimaginable. When you talk about these causes of death and you can reduce them by that much, as well as non-fatal strokes and non-fatal heart attacks, these are spectacularly large impacts."

If we're under stress, it's even harder -- we're more likely to overeat and find ourselves less motivated to exercise and more susceptible to smoking, drinking and other addictive behaviors. Meditation adds a powerful engine to your health resolutions. What's more, it's easy!

ADHD in Women: Is There a Role for Meditation?

2011-05-27T16:32:00.001-07:00

Many women find meditation helps them stay focused and organized during their daily routine. Most women don't have time for a lengthy practice, so they appreciate the ease and effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation technique in relieving stress and bringing clarity of mind. Neuroscientists tell us that an imbalance in brain functioning can underlie ADHD symptoms. The TM technique creates widespread EEG coherence throughout all areas of the brain, resulting in increased IQ, creativity, comprehension, memory and problem solving abilities.

Can Meditation improve Gross National Happiness?

2011-04-18T06:10:00.001-07:00

"Neoclassical economics have long quantified happiness through measurements in consumption and profits. Yet we now find ourselves in a post-plenty economy, one that lends itself to a new, less consumer-orientated mentality. The growing shift in people's orientation away from material gain and toward genuine happiness is a powerful indicator that the old way of measuring progress and wealth is no longer relevant." Shelly A. Lewis writes of a growing trend in countries around the world to measure Gross National Happiness as an indicator of progress in the nation.

Hopefully measuring national happiness, will help us focus on deeper more meaningful aspects of life, and lead people to realize that transitory pleasures never bring lasting happiness. In my work for the David Lynch Foundation, I find teaching at-risk children the Transcendental Meditation technique is one of the most valuable tools you can give a young person. They grow in self worth and inner happiness as they daily meditate and transcend the stress and superficiality of life.

A regular meditation practice allows one to contact the unchanging, non-material, silent, yet vibrant depths of Being—which anchors one in contentment and peace through all the ups and downs of life.

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Yoga, Meditation and Homemaking: The New Future of Women?

2011-01-21T17:45:00.001-08:00

Practicing yoga and meditation doesn't mean a woman is not interested in pursuing an active or meaningful life. If anything, taking time to nourish yourself by gaining inner peace and relief from stress will only strengthen what ever career options one chooses. I teach the Transcendental Meditation technique to women of all professions, each looking to harness more of her creative potential and balance the demands of outer life with inner calm and clarity.

I admire the creativity and skill of those who choose motherhood, as much as I admire professional businesswomen. When a women is grounded in her inmost nature, she is more intuitive and can better hear her inner voice to choose wisely how she spends her time and energy.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Yoga: A Dimension Beyond the Physical

2011-01-10T12:02:00.000-08:00

"Union" or YogaYoga For Beginners is a state of consciousness where a person experiences that everything is made of the same infinite silence and vibrant energy that is one's own consciousness. It is an awareness that can not be contrived, but naturally dawns with the practice of meditation. Recent scientific studies have correlated a specific style of highly coherent brain functioning with this experience during the practice of Transcendental Meditation. During this effortless technique the mind easily settles inward, transcending the active levels of thinking and experiences it's most expanded, silent, peaceful state.

This is the experience of "union" of the mind with it's source. It is the state of yoga or samadhi. With regular meditation it becomes infused in the mind so that even with eyes open, one experiences oneness with all that it perceived.

Feminism: Can meditation add a new dimension?

2010-12-12T12:00:00.001-08:00

Great article on the evolution of feminism appeared in the Huffington Post today. The author points out that although women have achieved greater freedom and responsibility, fewer women like to think of themselves as feminist.

Since the rise of feminism in America, many women have taken on more challenges and have become more taxed by the stress of multi-tasking and increased pressures of career and family life. More women are on anti-depressants and Prozak than ever before. We have become more stressed out and thereby less powerful in our natural ability to be nourishing and harmonizing to family, friends and co-workers.

I think a woman's greatest resource is her consciousness—the clarity or her mind and depth or her heart. As a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique for women, I see women gain enormous strength and respect when they are able to draw on their inner power—the energy, intelligence and vibrancy of their own Being. Adding this spiritual dimension of developing the divine feminine at the core of our consciousness will allow us to be more resourceful, more relaxed, more creative and successful in our endeavors.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Heart disease, the number one cause of death for women: How Transcendental Meditation can help

2010-11-15T18:49:00.001-08:00

Most women don't even know that heart disease is the number one killer women in America. More education about the risk factors and prevention is needed. Many life style factors, such as poor diet and lack of exercise, contribute to the disease, but experts agree that stress underlies them all. That is why the National Institutes of Health has granted over $20 million to study the effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on the prevention and treatment of heart disease, hypertension, and stroke.

The twice-daily TM practice has been found to reduce activation of the sympathetic nervous system—which, in turn, dilates the blood vessels and reduces stress hormones, such as adrenaline, and cortisol, providing stress relief.

Having a natural do-it-yourself stress buster technique like meditation can help women have healthier hearts and more balanced stress free lives.

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Change a girl's world, inspire her to meditate

2010-10-24T17:24:00.001-07:00

"Today's young woman is feeling more conflicted and concerned about her image and value than ever before," says Jess Weiner, author of A Very Hungry Girl. "Here's a sobering fact: when girls feel bad about their looks, 70 percent disconnect from life, avoiding normal activities like attending school or even giving their opinion. Sure, we all have bad days and moments when we want to pull the blanket over our heads, but when an entire generation of future leaders, thinkers and mothers disconnects from life because they are unhappy with their appearance, the possible repercussions on our society are profound.”

As a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique, I’ve taught many girls and young women to meditate. I find that meditation helps build self-confidence in women. Our culture spurs women to evaluate themselves in terms of outer appearances, money, and status. When a young girl meditates, she experiences deeper levels of her mind and heart — levels of mind teaming with intelligence, creativity, happiness and energy. At the same, time meditation reduces stress and increases flexibility, social abilities and self‐worth.

Young women who naturally find self-approval from within, rather than seeking it mostly from the outside, are less influenced by peer pressure. Transcendental Meditation is a valuable tool for a young woman to use as she matures, better preparing her to meet the stresses and challenges of adulthood. It goes hand in hand with the nourishing attention she needs from her mother or other caring adults in her life.

As Weiner points out: “Girls of all ages overwhelmingly report that they still value their mothers over celebrities and supermodels as their number-one source of inspiration. Moms and mentors across America, here's an invitation to you: Own that special relationship with the young girl in your life and start taking simple actions to build her self-esteem.”

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Meditation and the brain

2010-10-07T18:44:00.000-07:00

A recent report on how some meditation techniques may increase grey matter in the brain has led to an interesting discussion on meditation and brain research. What's more significant than changes in gray matter (which can happen by playing music or repeated mental tasks), is the brain research showing that meditation can change how the brain reorganizes it's neural networks, toward more coherent, integrated functioning. Specifically, 25 peer-reviewed EEG studies on Transcendental Meditation have shown increased alpha coherence in the brain's frontal areas. This is different from increased "cortical thickness," which doesn't indicate coherence, only increased brain activity in that area.

EEG coherence is important because everything good about the brain is dependent on it's coherent, orderly functioning. Coherence is associated with higher IQ, improved moral reasoning, faster reaction time, increased creativity and the experience of pure consciousness or inner wholeness.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeanne-ball/keeping-your-prefrontal-c_b_679290.html

Meditation and Empowerment of Women and Girls

2010-09-26T10:44:00.001-07:00

The annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative was especially notable due to the addition of the Empowerment of Women and Girls as one of the four distinct action areas to be discussed. Cheryl Saban reporting for Huffinton Post commented: "The consequence of not focusing on empowering women and girls - particularly in developing nations, totalitarian regimes, and war-ravaged regions, is that these nations won't realize the substantial gains and returns they would have, if they had invested in girls and women."

I think the Clinton Global Initiative to Empower Women and Girls reflects a shift in global consciousness — from the masculine qualities of aggression and greed to softer to more feminine qualities of cooperation, nurturing and trust. Women are rising to take responsibility for global change, and there is growing recognition that change begins in our own consciousness. I am not just talking about becoming more aware of the challenges of women and girls, but actually transforming our consciousness to be more enlightened. The inner wisdom, tenderness, creativity and intelligence of woman is a precious resource that needs to be nourished and unfolded.

As a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique, I see women of all ages gain great benefit from having a tool to dive within and connect to their creativity, energy and happiness, while at the same time gain deep relaxation and release stress and fatigue. I'd like to see this kind of tool for personal development, be part of the Clinton Global Initiative to help women gain inner strength, confidence and empowerment.

World Alzheimer's Day and Women

2010-09-21T12:41:00.001-07:00

Today is National Alzheimer’s day. Reports are drawing attention to the epidemic of the disease and its impact on women. Maria Schriver states, “Women are at the epicenter of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's disproportionately affects women, who are not only nearly two-thirds of those who suffer from Alzheimer's, women are also nearly two-thirds of the caregivers for those who have the disease.”

Lifestyle factors such as stress, lack of physical and mental exercise, diet and routine are some of the main risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s. Addressing the onset of dementia or mental deterioration through preventative measures such as a meditation practice can go a long way in maintaining mental agility. Research findings on the Transcendental Meditation technique show increased blood flow to the brain, greater EEG coherence and more efficient, integrated brain functioning. Better education about the risk factors for Alzheimer's and the options for prevention should be part of this discussion.

As women all across America are nurturing the next generation while simultaneously caring for the last generation, the cost is tremendous — financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Having a practice that allows the mind to effortlessly settle inward and experience greater energy, calm and orderliness is rejuvenating for both mind and body. The TM technique has been found to create deep, stress-relieving relaxation — balancing and healing body, mind and emotions.

For the elderly, the TM technique is easy to learn and practice and has been found not only to improve memory, alertness and decision making, but also reduce the stress, anxiety and depression that often accompany aging. Studies also show reduced heart attack and stroke and reduced hypertension.

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Stress and Addiction -- How Meditation helps us Cope

2010-09-17T17:12:00.001-07:00

September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, as proclaimed by President Obama. This year the Recovery Month theme highlights how psychological stress contributes to alcohol and/or drug use, and the disorders or relapse that may follow.

I have been the teaching the Transcendental Meditation technique to recovering addicts for several years. Often I hear how much they appreciate the deep inner calm they gain from their practice and direct connection to "their higher power." Many report that the TM technique gives them the ability to transcend the pattern of gratification through substance abuse. Experts in addiction tell us the relationship between stress and addiction is deeper than circumstantial; indeed, it runs right down to the cells in our brain. The Transcendental Meditation technique has been found to improve brain functioning and create deep coherent rest for the physiology, helping behavior.

The 12 step program is amazing, and adding the practice of Transcendental Meditation helps give the recovering addict a powerful tool for releasing stress, improving brain functioning and experiencing inner happiness.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thea-singer/september-is-recovery-mon_b_715975.html">

Depression: The modern epidemic for women

2010-06-22T17:38:00.000-07:00

Nearly 11% of women in America

are on antidepressants. How did a condition once thought to be so rare become epidemic? Many factors contribute to the disease, yet experts agree that stress is the main cause of the physiological imbalances that give rise to depression. Evidence suggests that women are more susceptible to stress and can succumb to depression under lower stress levels than men. The female physiological response to stress is different—women produce more stress hormones than men and recover less quickly from stress. Many women are looking for natural alternatives to antidepressants.

New research on meditation shows promising results. A recent study led by researchers at UCLA shows that over a 12-month period, depressive symptoms decreased by almost 50% among people practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique, compared to controls.[1] These findings are significant for anyone suffering from depression—especially women.
Natural Remedy for Depression

Meditation reduces stress and increases feelings of calm—an experience often described as bliss or inner happiness. This experience is the opposite of depression and has a unique style of physiology: deep rest and increased inner wakefulness,[2] and more integrated and harmonious brain functioning. [3] Depression is associated with low levels of serotonin, and studies show that TM practice increases serotonin (but only in subjects whose serotonin is too low—if serotonin is too high, research has found that levels decrease).[4]
Side effects of antidepressants

Women now make up more than half the work force, and many of those women also carry the load of housework and childcare, increasing a woman’s vulnerability to anxiety and depression. An alarming 79 percent of the prescriptions for antidepressant drugs are for women. One out of three doctor’s visits by women involves an antidepressant prescription. Because antidepressants do not address the root problem, doctors keep increasing the dosage. The side effects include weight gain or loss, intense restlessness, insomnia, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, panic attacks and anxiety.

Taking time out to relieve emotional and physical stress through regular meditation is a natural and effective approach to prevent and reduce depression. "Severely depressed people often believe they will never feel better," says Dr. Nancy Leibler, author of Healing Depression the Mind Body Way. "Because the Transcendental Meditation technique gives a feeling of fulfillment and calmness, it also gives hope."

References:
1. Transcendental Meditation Reduces Depression: study presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine in Seattle, Washington April 9th, 2010.

2. Biochemistry of Deep Rest, Reference: Hormones and Behavior 10: 54–60, 1978. Physiological indicators of deep rest during Transcendental Meditation, American Psychologist 42: 879–881, 1987.

3. Increased EEG Coherence during meditation, International Journal of Neuroscience 14: 147–151, 1981.

4. Bujatti, M., and Riederer, P. Serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine metabolites in Transcendental Meditation technique. Journal of Neural Transmission 39: 257–267,1976.

Keeping Your Prefrontal Cortex Online: Neuroplasticity, Stress and Meditation

2010-05-29T16:38:00.000-07:00

Read the new Huffington Post article
by Jeanne Ball

"Keeping Your Prefrontal Cortex Online:
Neuroplasticity, Stress and Meditation"

From the Huffington Post:

As we go through life, our brain is always changing and adapting, say neuroscientists. During the first 18-20 years of life the brain is developing circuits that will form the basis of decision-making for a lifetime. Brain researchers have found that unhealthy lifestyles can inhibit normal brain development in adolescents and lead to impaired judgment and destructive behavior that carries over into adulthood.

Studies recently published in the neuroscience journal Cognitive Processing show that brain development can be enhanced -- not only during adolescence but at any age -- through the Transcendental Meditation technique, and that different meditation techniques have different effects on the brain.

When the different parts of the brain are better integrated through TM practice, they work together more harmoniously -- our brain is healthier. Research shows that world-class athletes have higher brain integration than controls...

To read the article, click here

WATCH VIDEO of brain researcher Fred Travis: How TM practice affects the brain—click here

How different meditation techniques affect the brain

2010-05-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

Many people ask how different meditation and relaxation techniques affect the brain. Are the effects significantly different? Can computer brain imaging actually show the areas of the brain enlivened by different techniques? The emerging scientific paradigm in neuroscience is that each general category of meditation has its own signature brain pattern.

Three major types of practices have been classified according to EEG pattern and the type of cognitive processing (or mental activity) involved: 1) controlled focus (concentration), 2) open monitoring (mindfulness type practices), and 3) automatic self-transcending (such as Transcendental Meditation). Each type of meditation engages the mind in a very different way and has a specific EEG pattern.

Neuroscience have discovered that concentration techniques, such as many Zen practices that involve controlled focus, typically show strong gamma waves (Lutz A, et al, 2004).

Mindfulness meditation (or open monitoring) typically produces frontal theta, an EEG pattern associated with memory tasks and internal focus (Cahn, Delorme, & Polich, 2010).

The Transcendental Meditation technique has been shown (in both new long-term meditators) to consistently produce high alpha coherence in the prefrontal cortex and throughout the rest of the brain (Travis et al, "Cognitive Processing," 11, 1, 2010.). Alpha waves are associated with a relaxed yet alert state of mind, and heightened coherence indicates increased efficiency of brain functioning.

Also, the scientific literature shows that different practices consistently produce measurably different results regarding levels of rest, reduction of anxiety and depression, and effects on health and self-actualization. Often research on one meditation technique is wrongly attributed to another. When choosing a meditation technique, it is advised to look into the scientific research, if any, done on that specific technique. Pubmed.org is a good source in general and doctorsontm.org presents research on the TM technique.

Meditation: A solution for school bullying?

2010-05-28T16:28:00.000-07:00

A recent report of frequent bullying in American schools has brought national attention to the stressors commonly faced by teens—stressors that many parents and teachers are unaware of. Society is struggling to understand how 'atypical' adolescent peer pressure has escalated into vicious student behavior at school. As educators seek ways to increase compassion and empathy among students, many are finding that meditation offers promising, measurable results for tackling the underlying stressors that give rise to bullying.

The Problem of Bullying

The (US) National Center for Educational Statistics estimates that one third of students ages 12-18 are bullied at school and online. In all socio-economic levels, schools are experiencing heightened security concerns and acts of violence.

High divorce rates among parents, violent entertainment, and drug abuse by youth—even the use of prescription anti-depressants—are suspected of contributing to the problem. However, these factors are now being recognized as symptoms of an underlying cause: the epidemic of stress in our society.

A promising solution: stress-free schools

Hundreds of public and private schools throughout the US and around the world have benefited from a program of Quite Time, [1] where students have the option to sit quietly for a few minutes or to practice meditation to relieve stress. ‘It’s like a washing machine,' says Jody, a meditating student at a Detroit high school previously plagued by violence. 'Disturbing thoughts wash away.'

A recent study, conducted by the University of Connecticut, found that 106 at-risk adolescents in three high schools reduced levels of stress, anxiety, hyperactivity, and emotional problems when practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique over a period of four months at school, as compared with controls. [2] The TM technique is an effortless, non-religious meditation that is easy for students to learn and practice at school or on their own.

According to Dr. William Stixroud, “when the nervous system becomes settled and quiet during meditation, the stress response starts operating normally. As a result, children are simply less impulsive.” The process of quieting the mind and body through the Transcendental Meditation technique increases coherence between the two hemispheres and the front and the back part of the brain. [3] “More integrated brain functioning improves the ability in children to control their impulses,” says Dr. Stixroud. “They get in trouble less; they act without thinking less; they can inhibit the tendency to get distracted better.”

Effective meditation can also help strengthen children that are typically victims of bullying by building self-esteem and resilience to stress. Research studies have demonstrated that the TM technique not only reduces stress, it increases inner happiness, and results in improved flexibility, social ability, and confidence. [4] When adolescents practice mediation they tend to find approval from within rather than needing it from the outside, which leads to greater independence, less influence from peer pressure, and less abusive behavior.
http://www.dlfprojects.org/stress-free-urban-schools.html

References:
1. David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness Based Education

2. ‘At-risk adolescents reduce stress, anxiety, and hyperactivity through Transcendental Meditation.’ Robert Colbert, PhD, Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Connecticut (US). Presented at the Annual meeting of the Society for Behavioral Medicine, March 2008

3. ‘Increased EEG Coherence during Transcendental Meditation’: International Journal of Neuroscience 14: 147–151, 1981.

4. 'Transcendental Meditation reduces stress and increases happiness among middle school students.' Rita Benn, PhD, Director of Education, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research Center, University of Michigan. National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, April

Meditating Moms: Nourishing your self from the inside out.

2010-05-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

We’d like to think we’ll be able to ignore our needs while taking care of children, work and home. But, becoming overwhelmed with responsibilities, many mothers are tired, anxious or depressed. Moms need meditation probably more than anyone.

Many mothers find that fitting meditation into their day more than makes up for the time it takes. The Transcendental Meditation technique is easy to learn and effortless to practice. Its a powerfully effective stress buster that doesn't require clearing your busy mind of thoughts or having to concentrate or focus. Research has found that TM practice produces a state of profound relaxation, much deeper than ordinary rest and accompanied by increased alertness and orderly brain function. Regular practice results in decreased depression and anxiety, reduced insomnia and hypertension.

By diving deep within during TM practice the mind effortlessly settles to quieter levels of thinking and transcends the worries, pressures and agitation of the surface mind. Experiencing inner silence, happiness and energy not only replenishes our depleted reserves but creates vibrant consciousness and a naturally relaxed, stress resilient physiology. Intuition, patience, wisdom, love, all the divine qualities associated with Motherhood grow spontaneously with the deep rest and nourishment gained from regular TM practice.

Whether it's during your baby's nap, or after the kids go to or come home from school, taking time to meditate prepares you for being ‘on’ for others. If you work outside the home, meditating first thing in the morning or on your break at work may be best.

At the Asheville, NC Center for the Transcendental Meditation program, moms meet-up for group meditation and inspiration regularly. Child care is provided for young children, so moms can easily take a 'time in' while kids enjoy playing in the peaceful atmosphere and bliss of the TM center.

Unplug from technology and take a meditation break

2010-04-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

One way to really unplug from cell phones, computers, TV and electronic technology is to take a meditation break as a regular part of your routine. Not only are you turning off the electronics, but one's entire attention is turned inward, away from the outer world of sensory perceptions. The experience of the silent depths of our Being is a nourishing break that revitalizes and energizes the mind, heart and body. Neuroscience is finding that certain meditation techniques actually reset the brain and produce synchronous alpha throughout the entire brain. [1] After meditation, one's brain is functioning more coherently and it's easier to prioritize and create balance in life.

Reference: Increased EEG Coherence during Transcendental Meditation, International Journal of Neuroscience 14: 147–151, 1981.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Power Naps vs. Meditation

2010-04-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

Power naps are useful for those who don't get enough sleep at night. I find a 20 minute meditation also has the effect of refreshing the mind and boosting energy during the day. The Transcendental Meditation technique has been found to produce a state of rest that is even deeper than sleep [1], and allows the body to dissolve deep rooted stress that sleep alone can't remove.

Although meditation is not a replacement for sleep at night, it could be an alternative to napping. Neuroscientist have found that during meditation when a person transcends thought and experiences inner silent wakefulness, brain wave patterns show synchronous alpha throughout the entire brain. This particular meditative state is associated with coherent, orderly brain function, which is necessary for peak mental performance. Sleep on the other hand, produces mostly theta and delta waves, which scientists associate with lack of alertness and dullness. Naps are great for catching up on sleep, and meditation is great for developing higher states of consciousness. Reference: Levels of Rest during Transcendental Meditation: American Psychologist 42: 879–881, 1987.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Transcendental Meditation

2010-04-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

Relieving physiological stress is often more effective than discussing the traumatic events when treating PTSD, says psychotherapist Belleruth Naparstek. "It turns out that people headed for a diagnosis of post traumatic stress can't just "talk about it"- the trauma isn't even stored in the parts of the brain where language can access it. Instead it's been cached as frozen, primitive, pre-language experience - sensation, perception, emotion, images and motor reactivity - in the survival-based structures of the brain."

The Transcendental Meditation technique is a successful technique for releasing deep rooted stress and improving brain functioning. The Journal of Counseling and Development published a study on veterans suffering from PTSD showing that after three months of practicing the technique, symptoms of anxiety, depression, family problems and alcohol usage decreased significantly. The deep coherent rest gained during meditation helps heal the physiological seat of emotional stress and renews communication in the brain that was frozen due to trauma.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Radical-Peace-People-Refu-by-William-T-Hathawa-100604-346.html

Science is taking the mysticism out of meditation

2010-04-05T17:32:00.000-07:00

With the advancement of neuroscience, researchers are now identifying the physiological correlates of higher states of consciousness as described in the ancient Vedic texts. It's interesting that higher consciousness has been found to have its own unique brain wave signature, different from ordinary waking state consciousness. EEG coherence throughout the entire brain is now associated with the experiences of heightened awareness, eternity, inner silence, creativity and bliss (for example, see the research studies in the neuroscience journal 'Consciousness and Cognition,' 2010).

Brain patterns associated with higher stages of human development are being closely studied by scientists at The Center for Brain, Consciousness and Cognition at Maharishi University of Management, in Iowa. By documenting the changes that take place in the brain and physiology during and after meditation, science is taking the mysticism out of spiritual development.

As a meditation teacher, everyday I see Christians and people of all religions (as well as people of no religion) happily integrating meditation techniques into their life with no conflict. This acceptance is due in part to the extensive scientific research verifying the practical benefits of meditation. Aspects of Eastern knowledge, such as certain non-religious meditation techniques, are universal and compatible not only with modern science but with other religious and cultural traditions.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

TED MED: Streaming Brain waves To Your Cell Phone

2010-01-28T13:46:00.000-08:00

Sleep researcher Phillip Low reports on an new technology for self-monitoring abnormal brain function to prevent pathologies. Low describes how brain waves can be measured by an EEG devise and then the signal is sent to a cell phone. Low hopes that by self monitoring, there can be early detection of brain disorders.

Why not also monitor healthy and exceptional brain function, like that which occurs during peak mental performance or deep meditation? Already students at Maharishi University of Management use EEG reports to monitor the growth of higher brain function and coherence resulting from their meditation.[1] The practice of meditation and other healthy life style choices can positively effect the brain and may help prevent Alzheimer's, ADHD, dementia, depression etc. Hopefully this new technology will allow researchers to understand more about both healthy and unhealthy brains. Reference:

1. Increased EEG Coherence during Transcendental Meditation, International Journal of Neuroscience 14: 147–151, 1981.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Meditation techniques: How they compare

2010-01-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

Huffington Post

Jeanne Ball

Writer for the David Lynch Foundation, Meditation Teacher for 25 Years

Posted: September 22, 2010 04:50 PM

BIOBecome a Fan

Get Email Alerts Bloggers' Index

How Meditation Techniques Compare -- Zen, Mindfulness, Transcendental Meditation and more

What's Your Reaction:

Inspiring Enlightening Crazy Scary Helpful Amazing Innovative Important

SHARE THIS STORY

344

414views

214

Get Living Alerts

Meditation shopping? Sounds like an oxymoron, right? Yet millions of Americans are seeking tools to turn within. As a nation we've tried to fix our problems with everything from psychotherapy and Prozac to positive thinking and politics. Now people everywhere are ready to close their eyes and take a dive -- not to escape, but to more fully be.

Having lectured on meditation for 25 years, I find that audiences no longer need to be convinced of meditation's practical benefits. But people do often ask, "Aren't all meditation techniques basically the same?"

Experts in the venerated traditions of meditation have always marveled at the mind's subtlety, appreciating its keen responsiveness and sensitivity to different mental procedures. Great master teachers of meditation have recognized that the various techniques engage the mind in different ways and naturally produce different results. With advancements in neurophysiology, scientists are now identifying distinctions among varieties of meditation practices.

The Myth of the Relaxation Response

The old "scientific" myth that meditation practices all induce the same, general state of physiological rest -- called the "relaxation response" -- has been overturned. Though many practices provide relaxation, decades of research show that not all techniques produce the same physiological, psychological or behavioral effects.¹

Recently a doctor came to me for meditation instruction. He had learned a "relaxation response" technique in a class on integrative medicine during his training at Harvard. He was attracted to meditation by the promise of deeper insight into consciousness -- access to the mind's hidden, transcendent potentialities. He enjoyed the relaxation technique but yearned for deeper experience and understanding.

Reviewing the science journals, the doctor arrived at the same conclusion reached by leading meditation researchers: the "relaxation" model was based on inconclusive evidence and had never been substantiated. Hundreds of published studies on meditation techniques show varying effects from different practices -- ranging from measures of rest much deeper than the "relaxation response" to physiological states no different from sliding back into your easy chair.

The emerging paradigm: three major categories of meditation

Meditation labs have sprung up at universities across the country--places such as Yale, UCLA, University of Oregon, UW Madison and Maharishi University of Management. Their contributions have helped researchers identify three major categories of techniques, classified according to EEG measurements and the type of cognitive processing or mental activity involved:

Controlled focus: Classic examples of concentration or controlled focus are found in the revered traditions of Zen, Tibetan Buddhism, Qiqong, Yoga and Vedanta, though many methods involve attempts to control or direct the mind. Attention is focused on an object of meditation--such as one's breath, an idea or image, or an emotion. Brain waves recorded during these practices are typically in the gamma frequency (20-50 Hz), seen whenever you concentrate or during "active" cognitive processing.²
Open monitoring: These mindfulness type practices, common in Vipassana and Zazen, involve watching or actively paying attention to experiences--without judging, reacting or holding on. Open monitoring gives rise to frontal theta (4-8 Hz), an EEG pattern commonly seen during memory tasks or reflection on mental concepts.³
Automatic self-transcending: This category describes practices designed to go beyond their own mental activity--enabling the mind to spontaneously transcend the process of meditation itself. Whereas concentration and open monitoring require degrees of effort or directed focus to sustain the activity of meditation, this approach is effortless because there is no attempt to direct attention--no controlled cognitive processing. An example is theTranscendental Meditation technique. The EEG pattern of this category is frontal alpha coherence, associated with a distinct state of relaxed inner wakefulness.⁴

Some techniques may fall under more than one category: Guided meditation is controlled focus if the instruction is, "Hold attention on your breath." But if the instructor says, "Now just watch your thoughts, letting them come and go," then you're probably doing open monitoring--and your EEG would say for sure.

Different practices, different results

Without the scientific research (or until we have a cell phone app for measuring our EEG and biochemistry), meditative states and their effects remain subjective. Brain research, along with findings on psychological and behavioral effects, gives a more objective framework for health professionals or anyone to determine which meditation technique might be most beneficial for a given purpose.

For example, research suggests that concentration techniques may improve focusing ability. A studyon advanced Buddhist monks--some of whom had logged more 10,000 hours of meditation -- found that concentrating on "loving kindness and compassion" increased those feelings and produced synchronous gamma activity in the left prefrontal cortex -- indicating more powerful focus.

The effect of open monitoring or non-judgmental observation is said to increase even-mindedness in daily life; studies on mindfulness-type practices indicate better pain management and reduction of "negative rumination."

For relief from stress, research suggests that an automatic self-transcending technique might serve you better than a practice that keeps the mind engaged in continuous mental effort. Because of the natural mind/body relationship, the more deeply settled the mind, the more deeply rested is the body.Studies show that the deep rest of "transcending" calms the sympathetic nervous system and restores physiological balance -- lowering high blood pressure, alleviating chronic anxiety and reducing stress hormones such as cortisol.

More research is needed to verify benefits of controlled focus, but there are numerous studies onmindfulness practices and automatic self-transcending, with over 600 studies on the Transcendental Meditation technique alone.

As meditation becomes a new frontier of scientific research, more and more people are becoming aware of the mind's enormous potential for impacting health and wellbeing. I find that most meditators are no longer concerned that a technique might come from the East or have roots in a spiritual tradition--their main concern is that the practice works, and science can help remove the guesswork.

Americans are opting for meditation to counterbalance a life that's been plugged in, outer directed and over stimulated, and we're turning to something as simple as our own inner silence.

Whether you're an athlete aiming for the "zone," an executive striving for peak performance or a harried mother needing some serenity, a reliable meditation practice can be your best friend.

1. Orme-Johnson, Walton, 1998. American Journal of Health Promotion 2(5), 297-299.
2. Lutz, Greischar, Rawlings, Ricard, Davidson, 2004. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101,16369-73.
3. Cahn, Delorme, & Polich, 2010. Cognitive Processing 2010 11(1):39-56.
4. Travis et al, 2010. Cognitive Processing 11(1), 21-30.

How To Deal With Anxiety

2009-09-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

According to a government study, antidepressants have become the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. They're prescribed more than drugs to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, or headaches. The use of antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs -- those that affect brain chemistry -- has skyrocketed over the last decade. As people look for natural alternatives to medication to treat anxiety, many self help practices are emerging. A recent article in the Huffington Post recommends a form of mindfulness, the practice of being in in the moment, and controlling apprehensive thoughts as a means for dealing with anxiety.

Being present in the moment is a good quality, if it comes easily and naturally; otherwise it can divide the mind and create unnaturalness in behavior. Anxiety has a physiological correlate. The accumulation of stress and tension create agitation in the mind and emotions, and also in the physiology. Worries and anxiety further contribute to the stress in the body. It's a vicious cycle.

There is excellent research on the effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation technique for releasing stress and reducing anxiety. Transcending the surface levels of mindful attention and diving deep within during the TM technqique, to the 'source of thought' (pure consciousness) frees the mind of worries, brings relaxation and release of tension in the body. When stress is no longer agitating the mind, one spontaneously feels more calm and more present in the moment. And the clearer thinking that results from meditation allows one to tackle the concerns of life unfazed, with greater power and efficiency, instead of feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

See what doctors are saying about the Transcendental Meditation program for reducing anxiety at http://www.doctorsontm.com/tm-research/benefits-anxiety
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

What's Happening To Women's Happiness?

2009-09-11T22:16:00.000-07:00

"Each year since 1972, the United States General Social Survey has asked men and women: "How happy are you, on a scale of 1 to 3, with 3 being very happy, and 1 being not too happy?" This survey includes a representative sample of men and women of all ages, education levels, income levels, and marital status--1,500 per year for a total of almost 50,000 individuals thus far--and so it gives us a most reliable picture of what's happened to men's and women's happiness over the last few decades.First, since 1972, women's overall level of happiness has dropped, both relative to where they were forty years ago, and relative to men. You find this drop in happiness in women regardless of whether they have kids, how many kids they have, how much money they make, how healthy they are, what job they hold, whether they are married, single or divorced, how old they are, or what race they are". Marcus Buckingham Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcus-buckingham/whats-happening-to-womens_b_289511.html

It is no wonder women are not satisfied with the temporary joys of life. Women are deeply intuitive and can not be satisfied for long by materialistic achievements and sensory pleasures as the source of happiness. It is a sign of our wisdom that we are not happy with the status quo.

As a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique, I see women unleash their bliss by diving within and completely transcending the outer world and surface levels of the mind. Deeper levels of our being are more timeless, energized and sublime and therefore more absorbing. The direct experience of this expansive consciousness within oneself during meditation satisfies the quest for happiness and infuses joy into all the outer perceptions. Life becomes fun again when lived from the depth of contentment within.

Transcendental Meditation and Mindfulness, Vipassana meditation, a comparison

2009-09-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

"What's the difference between Transcendental Meditation and mindfulness meditation?" This frequently asked question rises out of the growing popularity of these two mainstream meditation practices. Due to requirements of time and tuition for learning the Transcendental Meditation technique, some people may wonder, "Aren't all meditations basically the same?" Mindfulness practices can be easily learned from a book, online or from a therapist, whereas the TM course involves up to 15 hours of training and can be learned only from a certified instructor. It's no wonder that people often want to compare these meditation techniques.

Although both forms of meditation produce relaxation and practitioners may report some similar benefits—such as inner calm and centeredness, pain management or greater awareness and focus during the day—these techniques differ considerably, both in practice and range of effects as measured by scientific research.

What is mindfulness meditation?
Mindfulness meditation (or guided mindfulness) generally involves watching one's thoughts, the breath or bodily sensations while sitting quietly. Typically the student does not judge or hold on to thoughts or perceptions, but merely observes them. Mindfulness is often described as the process of being attentive to one’s experiences. This practice of being mindful may also extend into daily activity, as one adheres to dispassionate observation of thoughts and actions in order to be more fully present in the moment and not overshadowed by passing concerns. [1] The practice of mindfulness takes place in what psychologists and neuroscientists generally call the waking state of consciousness, different from the sleep or the dream states.

What is the Transcendental Meditation technique?
During the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique, the mind spontaneously transcends, going beyond the mental activity of waking state to a unique state of restful alertness, called Transcendental Consciousness—a proposed fourth state of consciousness unlike waking, dreaming or sleep.[2] This easy meditation involves using a mantra, or sound without meaning, that has a harmonizing effect on the mind and body, producing deep relaxation and quieter mental activity. Because deeper levels of the mind are more concentrated with energy, creativity and intelligence, one's awareness becomes infused with these qualities as the meditator experiences the inner depths of consciousness.

Meditation and the brain
Over the last several decades, many scientist have become fascinated with researching physiological correlates of the meditative state—studying Tibetan monks, Indian yogis and trained Western meditators as their subjects. One thing that has become obvious: different meditation techniques do not produce the same levels of relaxation, change in breath rate, brain patterns, or benefits for mind and body. For example, recent research on mindfulness meditation recorded a pattern of increased gamma in the rear of the brain, and found no significant changes in alpha activity. [3] Increased gamma is associated with heightened focus of attention.

Research on the Transcendental Meditation technique has repeatedly shown highly synchronous alpha throughout the entire brain, especially in the pre-frontal cortex. [4] Heightened alpha is associated with relaxed wakefulness, and increased coherence indicates improved overall brain functioning and is correlated with improved learning ability, higher IQ, better moral reasoning and increased neurological efficiency. This state of coherence is not found in ordinary relaxation or other meditation practices.

Meditation techniques that keep the mind actively attentive in the waking state, as mindfulness-type practices do, have not been found to consistently produce a level of relaxation deeper than ordinary eyes-closed rest—and relaxation is not a primary intention of all meditation practices. Transcendental Meditation is the only meditation found by research to produce a level of rest more than twice as deep as ordinary relaxation, indicated by changes in breath rate, skin resistance and plasma lactate. [5]

Enlightenment
Though meditation can be practiced strictly for health benefits—such as reduction of high blood pressure[6]—the awakening of full human potential, called nirvana or enlightenment, has historically been the goal of many of the venerated traditions of meditation. Fortunately, modern researchers have discovered a scientific basis for identifying higher consciousness—a coherent style of brain functioning and a balanced, more refined state of physiology. Numerous, peer-reviewed studies show that EEG coherence and more harmonious physiological functioning accompany both deep meditation and heightened awareness when stabilized in daily activity.[7] Research breakthroughs such as these are raising the field of meditation and personal growth to the evidence-based standards of science.

The mindfulness approach to enlightenment
Many contemporary approaches of mindfulness strive to attain enlightenment by recapitulating the qualities of the enlightened state as a practice in meditation and daily life. Equanimity of mind, being fully present in the moment, and impartially observing ones thoughts are some of the attributes often associated with the state of enlightenment. Many spiritual aspirants believe that consciously striving to maintain these "enlightened" qualities in daily life will lead to total mindfulness or enlightenment.

Enlightenment through Transcendental Meditation
TM practice offers another approach to enlightenment, one that involves simultaneously culturing both mind and body through twice-daily transcending. By alternating morning and evening TM with
one's normal, natural daily routine, the inner, silent state of "pure consciousness" becomes stabilized and lived in the midst of one's outer activity. With this approach, there is no conscious attempt to maintain equanimity or detachment during or after meditation. The brain spontaneously becomes habituated to maintain a more orderly, coherent style of functioning, naturally giving rise to inner calm, broader comprehension, increased creativity and self actualization.[ 6] When the physiology gains deep relaxation during TM practice, accumulated stress is dissolved and the whole system becomes more balanced and resilient, able to support the spontaneous growth of higher consciousness in a natural way.

Modern day interpretations of meditation, often self taught and without expert guidance, can account for the differences in effectiveness between the various meditation practices. When comparing meditations, whether the Transcendental Meditation technique, Vipassana, Zen, or guided meditation, it is now possible to refer to such sites as www.pubmed.org for scientific research on the benefits before committing time to a meditation program.

References:
1. Mindfulness: Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10(2), 125-143.

2. Science 167 (1970), Scientific American 226 (1972), American Journal of Physiology 221 (1971), Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology 35 (1973).

3. Mindfulness: Occipital gamma activation during Vipassana meditation, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA,

4. Transcendental Meditation and Brain Wave Coherence: International
Journal of Neuroscience 14: 147–151, 1981. Revue d’Electroencephalographie et de Neurophysiologie Clinique 4:
445–453, 1974.

5. Hormones and Behavior 10: 54–60, 1978, American Psychologist 42: 879–881, 1987.

6. Hypertension 26: 820–827, 1995

7. Journal of Clinical Psychology 45 (1989), Journal of Clinical of Psychology 33 (1977). Journal of Social Behavior and Personality (17: 93–121, 2 ,Journal of Social Behavior and Personality (6: 189–248, 1991)

Transcendental Meditation relieves stress in women with Breast Cancer

2009-09-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

Fear, anxiety and confusion often accompany the diagnosis of cancer or any life threatening disease. Being able to take control of one's emotions and navigate through treatment options and life style changes is essential for a speedy recovery. For managing stress and finding the inner strength to deal with a serious illness, many women find that learning Transcendental Meditation is a key factor. Not only does effective meditation provide deep relaxation and calm, but also better intuition and clarity of mind to face the challenges of fighting for one's life. A recent study gives encouragement for women with breast cancer for improving their ability to manage stress and find solace from within.

A study published in the peer-reviewed Integrative Cancer Therapies (Vol. 8, No. 3: September 2009), "The Effects of Transcendental Meditation on Women with Breast Cancer" found reduced stress and improved mental health and emotional well being through their practice of the technique. The study was a collaboration between the Center for Healthy Aging at Saint Joseph Hospital; the Institute for Health Services, Research and Policy Studies at Northwestern University; the Department of Psychology at Indiana State University; and the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University of Management.

"It is wonderful that physicians now have a range of interventions to use, including Transcendental Meditation, to benefit their patients with cancer," said Rhoda Pomerantz, M.D., study co-author and chief of gerontology, Saint Joseph Hospital. "I believe this approach should be appreciated and utilized more widely."
The one-hundred-and-thirty women with breast cancer, 55 years and older, who participated in the two-year study at Saint Joseph Hospital were randomly assigned either the Transcendental Meditation technique or to a usual care control group. Patients were administered quality of life measures, including the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast, every six months for two years. The average intervention period was 18 months.

Since emotional and psychosocial stress contribute to the onset and progression of breast cancer and cancer mortality, the Transcendental Meditation technique provides an effective technique to reduces stress and improves emotional well-being and mental health in breast cancer patients, the study found. Having a technique to experience inner silence and timelessness can alleviate the sense of helplessness women often feel in the face of a life threatening disease. Transcendental Meditation is an effortless technique and doesn't require any belief system or ability to concentrate or focus.

"The women in the study found their meditation practice easy to do at home and reported significant benefits in their overall quality of life. Decades of research have shown that stress contributes to the cause and complications of cancer," said Robert Schneider, M.D., F.A.C.C., co-author and director of Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University of Management. "The data from this well-designed clinical trial and related studies suggest that effective stress reduction with the Transcendental Meditation program may be useful in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and its deleterious consequences."

Facts on Breast CancerBreast cancer is the most common cancer in women—and remains a leading cause of death. Breast cancer incidence in the United States is 1 in 8 (about 13%). In 2008, an estimated 250,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in women in the U.S. Women above the age of 50 have nearly four times the incidence compared to women under 50. Newly diagnosed and long-term survivors are affected by impairment in quality of life, including emotional, physical, functional, social, and spiritual domains. Psychosocial stress contributes to the onset, progression, and mortality from this disease.

Clinical diagnosis of breast cancer increases psychological distress, with sustained distress occurring during cancer treatment and continuing long-term.
There have been an increasing number of women using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for female-specific cancers. In terms of breast cancer, recent studies indicate that CAM use among women may be as high as 90 percent. As more and more women search for natural remedies for treatment of breast cancer, the Transcendental Mediation technique offers a foundation of inner peace and healing to aid faster recovery from disease. Since it is taught in a professional setting with one-on-one guidance and follow up, women suffering from a serious illness can be sure they are learning an authentic meditation whose benefits have been validated by scientific research.

Families may also benefit from the practice as they feel the impact of stress and worry almost as much or more than the cancer patient. Dealing with a crisis requires a level head and patience that stress and tension can undermine. The introduction of Transcendental Meditation as an adjunct therapy in treating cancer is an encouraging sign, indicating the rise of integrative medicine—the medicine of the future.

Women's self esteem in the work place

2009-09-06T13:32:00.000-07:00

The Shriver Report, out just last week, found that mothers are the major breadwinners in 40 percent of families. Portfolio magazine editor Joanne Lipman insists that though women are half the work force, they still suffer from lack of self esteem and criticism from their male counterparts. Lipman argues that the success of women has been 'mismeasured' and that attitudes must change for women to enjoy their success.

Men may criticise successful women when they feel threatened by them as competitors, or to bolster their own low self image. And women looking to outer measures of themselves often feel insecure and don't have the confidence to stand up for their rights in the work place. The 'mismeasure' of women in business is due to insecurity and low self esteem on every one's part, not just men.

Reshaping our societal attitude as often suggested can also come from a rise in collective consciousness as people find means to purify their minds and deal with stress. As a teacher of meditation, I see women improve their self esteem by transcending to deeper levels of their Being that are more expansive and free from the limitations of stress and fatigue. Their self image naturally transforms when they are harnessing more creativity, clear thinking and inner calm.

Growing in power and confidence from within gives a solid foundation for self esteem that is not based on circumstances or approval from others. A woman radiating that kind of power is nourishing and doesn't threaten others, but creates admiration and respect. Changing the way we feel about ourselves through the direct experience of the greater energy and happiness of our Being is a subtle but effective way to change how others perceive us—for both women and men.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

What is the Transcendental Meditation technique?

2009-07-15T03:29:00.001-07:00

The TM technique is a simple, natural, enjoyable procedure to settle the mind, expand awareness and access the limitless reservoir of creativity, energy and intelligence that resides within everyone — for more powerful thinking, heightened well-being and greater efficiency in life.

The Transcendental Meditation technique is practiced twice daily for 15-20 minutes while sitting quietly and comfortably with eyes closed. It requires no effort or concentration and no special skills or change of lifestyle. You don’t even have to believe in the technique for it to work! Meditate regularly twice a day and you’ll get results.

• How to Learn.

Transcendental Meditation and Getting out of a Rut

2009-07-13T15:48:00.000-07:00

"Many people feel trapped by their circumstances. The main problem we need to address when feeling trapped, is the feeling of being trapped - not the circumstances, per se. As long as the focus remains on the circumstances, the entrapment will continue." Russel Bishop, international consultant and life coach.

I find that Transcendental Meditation is a great way to get out of a rut (and stay out!) because it de-fogs the mind so you can clearly hear your inner voice again. Stress, worries and fatigue cramp the mind's natural appetite for life and ability to handle challenges. When the awareness is dull and uncreative, one's circumstances can seem doomed. The feeling of being trapped comes from consciousness being stuck on the surface level of the mind. Looking for a way out of a situation and not being able to see beyond the circumstances creates even more stress and frustration.

Most people find that resolving a troubled situation is much easier if you can get some distance from it. The TM technique allows you to transcend the problem and contact deeper levels of Being that are teaming with creativity and inspiration. I'm not talking about just watching your thoughts or breath, but diving deep within where the mind gets satiated with its own silence and inner bliss.

Within just a few minutes of practice of Transcendental Meditation, the mind feels relieved of tension as it effortlessly settles and expands beyond its normal limitations. After meditation, one sees the same old rut with new perspectives and insights and even the most mundane activity is infused with fun and energy.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Natural Antidepressant to Boost Your Spirits

2009-07-12T19:28:00.000-07:00

Antidepressants have become the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. It's time to take a more serious look at natural alternatives, like meditation. A recent report on the Huffington Post lists mindfullness meditation as a natural treatment for depression. Interestingly, the research referred to from a BBC article on mindfulness and depression, states that mindfulness is "recommended for people who are not currently depressed, but who have had three or more bouts of depression in their lives." The researcher also emphasized that this particular study is not conclusive.

People who are suffering from real depression may be interested to know that there is a body of comprehensive, controlled research on another well-known practice, Transcendental Meditation, demonstrating its positive effects on anxiety, depression and mental health.

Mindfulness has been found to produce some good benefits, even though it engages awareness on the surface level of the mind, actively watching and sustaining conscious attention. The TM technique is another approach all together. It allows the mind to transcend mental activity, including depressing thoughts, worry and anxiety. Experiencing the field of transcendental bliss, expansion and peace--the state of pure awareness beyond the field of thought--is the opposite of depression. This state has a unique style of physiology, characterized by very deep rest and more integrated and harmonious brain functioning.

The peer-reviewed research on TM's effects for alleviating depression can be found at Pub Med or at http://www.tm.org/benefits-depression-adult#q02
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Transcendental Meditation: The missing component in healthcare reform

2009-07-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

Imagine entering a doctor's office and being greeted by a sign saying, "Quiet, Meditation in Progress," and finding a waiting room full of people sitting with eyes closed. The doctor seated amongst them opens one eye and motions to you to sit down and join in. Could this vision be the missing component of healthcare reform?

Many progressive doctors are championing the need for prevention and lifestyle changes as a way to reduce healthcare costs, yet reams of scientific research indicates that meditation may offer a short cut to this major overhaul in health consciousness.

A truly healthy lifestyle-change begins within, with a change in attitude and feeling about ourselves. Society teaches us to direct our attention towards material gain and sensory stimulation—chasing after fulfillment in the world of product consumption. The result is usually exhaustion and lack of connection to our bodies and inner well-being. It is no wonder we have allowed our healthcare to be based on consumerism, too. When we are sick, we buy a 'magic' pill to fix us and pay for expensive treatments and consultations. Looking outside ourselves for health, we suppress symptoms instead of dealing with the root causes of illness.

Taking care of the body starts with taking care of the Self within. Medical doctor and author Frank Lipman suggests, "Ultimately the most effective way to increase the health of the nation and to cut healthcare costs is by taking responsibility for our own health and learn prevention. It has been repeatedly shown that what we eat, how we respond to stress, how much exercise we get, our exposure to chemicals and the quality of our relationships and social support systems is powerful medicine."

The missing link to creating this health consciousness is creating the inner strength and clarity of mind necessary to make healthy decisions. Day to day choices about what to eat, when to go to bed, how much exercise to do, how to handle stress at work—all depend on our mood and state of mind. An effective meditation practice that releases stress and deepens ourconnection to inner contentment and mental clarity is the best foundation for creating healthy habits that last.

Fortunately, science has taken the mysticism out of meditation and its effect on health. In the market place of self-help and meditation practices, subjective reports are unreliable for the purpose of healthcare reform. But researchers have studied what happens in the brain during meditation, and how meditation effects metabolic rate, blood lactate, heart rate, blood pressure and aging.

As early as 1971, scientists started looking beyond the subjective reports of meditators and investigating the physiological correlates of the meditative state. In the physiology laboratories of UCLA, the Transcendental Mediation technique was found to produce decreases in oxygen consumption, respiratory rate, heart rate, muscle tension, and blood pressure, and a greater increase in skin resistance (showing a more relaxed state). Since that time, over 600 studies have been published in scientific journals.Transcendental Meditation is the most widely researched of all meditation techniques, showing extensive benefits for mind, body and behavior. Healthcare reformists in Washington, overwhelmed by pharmeceutical lobbyists, should consider the findings on health

savings:

• A study published in the journal of Psychosomatic Medicine found that the Transcendental Meditation group had 55% less medical care utilization, both in-patient and out-patient, compared to controls matched for age, gender, and occupation. The Transcendental Meditation group had lower sickness rates in all categories of disease, including 87% less hospitalization for heart disease and 55% less for cancer. [1]

• Compared with the five leading anti-hypertension drugs over a period of 20 years, a study published in the American Journal of Hypertension indicated that the TM technique had the lowest cost and the most health benefits. The cost reduction of Transcendental Meditation ranged from 23.7% to 72.9% less than the anti-hypertensive medications. [2]

• People who practice Transcendental Meditation spend 11% less annually on health care than the general population. [3]

• Research shows that the TM technique also strengthens health by decreasing habits such as tobacco, alcohol and non-prescription drug usage, which are behavioral correlates of chronic stress and result in millions of dollars in health-care expenditures each year. For example, figures from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids assert that smokers cost the economy $97.6 billion a year in lost productivity.

Changing the healthcare model from focusing on costly disease treatment, to preventative care with meditation as a core practice, will create a health care system that will not only be cost effective but create a higher standard of what it means to be healthy.

1. Reference: Orme-Johnson, D. W. (1987). Medical care utilization and the Transcendental Meditation program. Psychosomatic Medicine; 49(1): 493-507.

2. Reference: Schneider RH, Alexander CN, Staggers F, Orme-Johnson DW, Rainforth M, Salerno JW, Sheppard W, Castillo-Richmond A, Barnes VA, Nidich SI. A randomized controlled trial of stress reduction in African Americans treated for hypertension over one year. American Journal of Hypertension, 18:88-98, 2005.

3. Herron, R. E., Hillis, S. L. (2000). Impact of the Transcendental Meditation Program on Medical Expenses. Abstracts of the American Public Health Association 128th Annual Meeting and Exposition, Nov. 12-16, p. 178.

Self worth begins with Self realization

2009-07-11T14:37:00.000-07:00

Realizing self worth begins with Self realization. As a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique, I see women gain a steady sense of self worth as they turn within and effortlessly transcend to the deepest level of their own being, which is eternal, silent and blissful. When ever I have felt a slight tinge of insecurity or worry about what others are thinking of me, I know its time to meditate and get beyond the surface.

With practice, the Transcendental Meditation technique helps develop higher consciousness and identification with more of the inner glory of the Self instead of the changing circumstances of life, the ups and downs of karma and opinions of others.

Even women with status and wealth can have a poor self image if they look to the outside to evaluate them selves. We have to be anchored in the non-changing essence of our being to feel confident in who we really are.

"The world is as you are", Maharishi once said. Self worth begins with in.

Transcendental Meditation and the path to enlightenment

2009-07-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

In the recent article on the Huffington Post, " Bringing the benefits of meditation into daily life", the author encourages readers to engage in a "meditation" while in activity and prescribes contriving behavior and controlling thoughts as a practice for gaining enlightenment. My comments were posted as follows:

The qualities described in this article as a practice, such as observation of one's self while acting (detachment), attentiveness to the present moment (mindfulness), lack of expectation (surrender), are 'attributes' of a heightened state of consciousness, not the 'path' to it. I have found in my 35 years of teaching Transcendental Meditation that students easily transcend during the TM technique and reach the source of thought, their minds get energized with bliss and pure consciousness. Afterwards, their awareness can naturally focus more powerfully, and in a spontaneous way, without conscious intention to be mindful or attentive.

Trying to be detached or watchful of our thoughts while in the midst of action divides and weakens the mind and creates artificiality in behavior. Unfortunately, the goal of many great traditions of enlightenment has been mistaken for the path, leaving well-intentioned seekers trying to create a state of steadiness though contrivance. Enlightenment is cultivated through deep, effortless meditation that infuses pure consciousness into our daily activity.

Meditation and Religion

2009-07-10T15:10:00.000-07:00

I remember starting yoga and meditation as a teenager in search of enlightenment. I wasn't ready to ditch my religeous faith but was bored with church. My regular practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique gave me the direct experience of the inner realms of bliss and timeless silence. For the first time I started to have deeper insights into the words of the Bible, such as "Be still and know that I am God" and "The kingdom of heaven is within you." I soon felt at peace with what Christ was talking about and was glad I had a way to make it relevant in my life.

Now I am a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique. I see people coming to learn who are concerned that TM doesn't interfere with their religion, as well as those who are are looking for a way to access the divine from within. Religious folks commonly find more meaning in their scriptures when they meditate, and the non-religious find their own words to relate to their experience of serenity and union with the divine.

Most likely, the daily practice of transcending the material world and gaining the non-material, purely spiritual side of life was once an important part of all the great religions, but over time understanding became distorted and lost. I think this meditation can re-enliven the great religions and make them more relevant, as well as bring spirituality to those who have no religious beliefs.

What Inspired A Scientist To Open A Meditation Center At UCLA?

2009-07-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

In a recent report on the Huffington Post, Susan Smalley, Ph.D., a research scientist for 25 years, shared her fascinating journey of how she was inspired to create a meditation center for research at UCLA. "I had learned TM (transcendental meditation) in the 70s, and kind of made fun of it. . . And it really had a huge impact and I had what I now call a "mystical experience" - I had a huge shift in consciousness. And it wasn't one that was incremental, day after day, increasing and increasing, but one of those, bam! Wow! The world, we're all interconnected, I'm part of the oneness of the universe. I discovered this sense of deep interconnectedness of our dependent nature." Dr. Smalley went on to say, "It was a really profound state, and along with this heightened state of consciousness, this incredible state of compassion, came a flood of rushing joy, bliss, calmness, happiness. I couldn't even muster the old feelings I had that included the negative feelings of jealously, greed, anger ... all of those things I couldn't find in myself."

Dr. Smally's beautiful experience of heightened awareness after
learning Transcendental Meditation (TM) is not uncommon. As a teacher of TM, I hear reports like this often. For some folks it is more concentrated, as was Dr. Smally's initial experience; for others it's a gradual awakening. The clarity and duration of the experience depends on the ability of the nervous system and brain to sustain heightened awareness.

Although it is a mental technique, Transcendental Meditation transforms the functioning of the brain and nervous system. The deep rest and experience of pure consciousness is healing and soothing to the system. Direct contact with this inner field of blissful, unified awareness--teaming with creative intelligence--infuses those qualities into daily life and spontaneously unfolds higher states of consciousness. Permanent heightened awareness is cultured over time as stresses are released and the brain adopts a more holistic style of functioning that can support higher consciousness.

Many people, including great mystics and saints of the past, have had temporary experiences of unity and bliss and would have been able to recapture and sustain it had they a systematic technique for purifying and transforming the nervous system.

Fortunately, there are scientist like Dr. Smally taking a closer look at meditation and its ability to alter awareness. UCLA has been in the forefront of this kind of research since 1971, when it was first discovered in their physiology labs that Transcendental Meditation provides the experience of a fourth,major state of consciousness.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Meditation and growth of intuition

2009-07-08T05:47:00.000-07:00

In a recent article on the Huffington post,
Premonitions and Spirituality Dr. Larrry Dossey states: "Premonitions therefore imply that we are not isolated individuals, but beings whose consciousness operates outside the present and beyond our physical body. They suggest that in some sense we are nonlocal or infinite in space in time. When we deeply sense this, we may become "transparent to the transcendent," as mythologist Joseph Campbell put it."
As a teacher of Transcendental Meditation, I recognize the value of daily meditation for developing higher consciousness and intuition. My comments on this article are as follows:
Becoming "transparent to the transcendent," is actually something that can be developed and cultivated. Consciousness is more expanded and unified with all of creation at its deeper levels. Quieter levels of the mind contain more truth and are not bound by time and space.

Most of us are restricted to the surface active levels of the mind and never transcend to deeper levels. It is stress that keeps the mind agitated and dull. But intuition doesn't have to be an occasional hunch or feeling. The Transcendental Meditation technique clears the mind of the cobwebs and frees it to fathom its full expanse. With practice, one develops clearer thinking and many women comment that they start to live more by their deeper instincts and feelings and good intuition becomes the norm.

Media should focus on helping At-Risk Kids

2009-07-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

A recent story of a small boy who was supposedly trapped in a hot air balloon created an enormous news sensation. Social commentator Ariana Huffington complains about the lack of attention the media gives to the real problems of children:

"-- the over 1.5 million children who are homeless.
-- the 42 percent of homeless children who are under the age of 6.
-- the one in six homeless children who suffers from an emotional problem.

It doesn't have to be wall-to-wall coverage, but how about some coverage of the 75 to 100 percent increase in the number of children who are newly homeless because of the foreclosure crisis? Or the 13 million American children living in poverty?"

I agree with Ariana, and thank her for pointing out the ridiculous media-obsession with sensationalism. I think the media misjudge the intelligence and interests of their audience. Presenting the desperate needs of children could be just as captivating as the "balloon boy" story and would serve a higher purpose in motivating more help for children.

It is encouraging to know there are philanthropists wise enough to act on their own, not waiting for the media to become relevant—like film director David Lynch, whose foundation helps children deal with stress and improve their mental capabilities by teaching them Transcendental Meditation. Such innovative projects warrant media attention and could satisfy the interest of sensationalism, too.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The true nature of yoga: stretching the boundaries of consciousness

2009-07-03T11:40:00.000-07:00

By Dr. Barbara Stienmann
Today, yoga is a household word and practiced by millions of people, yet few people know what yoga really is. The Sanskrit word yoga means 'union' and refers to the union of the individual self (jiva) with the higher Self (Atman) and, ultimately, with the supreme Self—Paramatman, or Brahman. More than simply a path, yoga denotes the goal of spiritual practice: union of the individual with the totality of cosmic existence, union of human life with the totality of Natural Law, or, in religious language, the Divine.

Yoga becomes popular in the West
Fifty years ago, when Maharishi Mahesh Yogi first began traveling around the world teaching his Transcendental Meditation technique, yoga was virtually unknown in the West. Time magazine ascribes the explosion of interest in yoga in the United States to Maharishi’s revival of the ancient Vedic wisdom in this country, crediting Maharishi with the enormous popularity of yoga today. In fact, Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation program is deeply rooted in the timeless wisdom of yoga, which is an aspect of the timeless Vedic literature of India.

To most Americans, yoga means physical postures (asana), which tone the body and promote health and well-being. But this is just a small part of yoga as revealed in the ancient Vedic text, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Maharishi explains that throughout the ages, Patanjali’s ashtanga yoga (literally, 'eight-limbed yoga') has been greatly misunderstood.

Eight limbs of yoga
While Patanjali clearly speaks of eight limbs of yoga, all interconnected just as the limbs of the body form one whole, commentators in India and the West have interpreted Patanjali’s yoga system as a series of eight steps, culminating in samadhi—the state of yoga, the Atman, the Self. Aspirants were therefore advised to begin at the bottom rung of this imaginary ladder and work their way up, slowly and tediously, until some day the goal of samadhi is attained. Among the eight 'steps' of this viewpoint, asana, or physical postures, has eclipsed the others and come to be known as 'yoga'.

Maharishi’s profound insight into the Vedic wisdom turns this false interpretation of yoga most fittingly on its head! Using the analogy of a table, Maharishi explains that all the limbs of yoga are connected like the legs of a table. When you pull on one leg, the whole table follows. But some legs are easier to pull than others, and if you are wise, you will pull the simplest leg and accomplish the goal in least time and with least effort.

The body is a heavy, stiff, material object. Bending the body, as in the practice of yoga asanas, requires patient effort and training and may take a lifetime to reach the 'superfluid' state of pure consciousness, or samadhi.

Yoga for the mind
But the mind is infinitely flexible. We all experience that in our thoughts or imagination, we can go anywhere in the twinkling of an eye; we can accomplish anything. The mind is ethereal, without substance. It is therefore very easy to 'bend' the mind in the direction of its source— pure, self-referral consciousness. With its innate flexibility, the mind naturally and instantaneously moves toward samadhi once it has learnt the proper technique.

That technique is Transcendental Meditation, which stems from the ancient Vedic Tradition. The TM technique makes use of the mind’s natural tendency to seek greater happiness in order to turn the attention within and gently lead the mind to quieter, more refined levels of thinking, until it transcends even the finest level of thought and reaches a state of absolute silence, peace and inner contentment—a field of unbounded bliss. In this state of samadhi, all the fluctuations and diverse tendencies of the mind merge into unified wholeness, the yoga state of consciousness. Through this effortless, enjoyable practice twice daily, the meditator hits the target and the supreme level of yoga is achieved.

Consciousness, the seat of yoga
Once yoga (samadhi) has been experienced through regular practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique, all the other limbs of yoga naturally follow. Just as the legs of a table move in unison, all eight limbs of yoga develop simultaneously through repeated experience
of samadhi, the highest or foremost limb. Maharishi likens this to 'capturing the fort': you capture the fort on top of the hill, and all the riches of the territory automatically belong to you. This principle of the 'highest first' reveals the secret of all success in life: first establish yourself in the state of yoga—Transcendental Consciousness, the Self—and then effortlessly achieve all that you desire. This is why the Bhagavad Gita, also called the 'text of yoga', advises:

Yogasthah kuru karmani
'Established in yoga, Transcendental Consciousness, perform action.'
And:
Yogah karmasu kaushalam
'Yoga is skill in action.'

The regular alternation of deep silence (meditation) and daily activity stabilizes the awareness in the state of yoga (samadhi), so that throughout all the changing phases of life, one remains unshakably established in the Self. At the same time, Maharishi’s Vedic Science promotes all the limbs of yoga through its specific approaches, including Neuromuscular Integration (asana); Neurorespiratory Integration (pranayama); the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Program—an advanced Transcendental Meditation practice, which incorporates the three 'highest' limbs of yoga: dharana, dhyana, and samadhi—and, finally, through other approaches of Maharishi’s Vedic Science, which cover the areas corresponding to yama, niyama, and pratyahara. So even as all the limbs are automatically nourished* through one simple practice—the Transcendental Meditation technique—they are further enlivened through the specific approaches that comprise Maharishi’s holistic comprehensive Vedic Science.

The current upswing of yoga around the world testifies to the growing awakening in world consciousness. Whether you are a devout yoga practitioner or an armchair yogi, through the Transcendental Meditation technique you can realize the ultimate goal of yoga—enlightenment.

*Note: As stress and tension dissolve through the practice of the TM technique, the body becomes more flexible and begins to function in an optimal manner. Breathing naturally becomes calm and health improves. The benefits of asana and pranayama thus naturally result from TM practice.

Similarly in the field of behaviour, all the precepts and ideals of yama and niyama come to be spontaneously lived as consciousness expands and the individual grows in enlightenment. Behaviour becomes naturally evolutionary and life-supporting, nourishing and enriching to oneself and one’s surroundings.

As awareness becomes established in the Self, inner bliss and fullness begin to permeate the mind and senses, leading to the spontaneous experience of pratyahara, in which the mind and senses always remain anchored in the bliss of the Self and are no longer bound by outer
experience and enjoyment.

As for dharana—steadiness of mind and improved concentration are the natural result of practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique, rather than a prerequisite to its practice. TM practice itself is the ideal form of dhyana—meditation—which takes the mind from the surface thinking level to the source of thought, Transcendental Consciousness or samadhi.

Barbara Stienman, teacher of the Transcendental Meditation program, spent 23 years working with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi developing Vedic Knowledge for Education. She is a graduate of Smith College, and Maharishi European Research University, Switzerland, where she received a Masters in Vedic Studies and Doctorate in the Science of Creative Intelligence.

Building a Time Machine vs. Meditating

2009-05-04T10:21:00.000-07:00

Stephen Hawking, physicist and cosmologist, talks about how to build a time machine in an article for the Daily Mail. "To do that we need a truly enormous machine. The ship would have to be big enough to carry a huge amount of fuel, enough to accelerate it to nearly the speed of light."

Probing inner space during the Transcendental Meditation technique, one discovers the farthest reaches of the universe are actually within. This is not imaginary, but an ontological reality. It is substantiated by cutting-edge unified field theories in quantum physics which propose that consciousness is fundamental to the physical universe.

The ancient records of the Vedic seers describe different levels of spacetime co-existing within one human consciousness. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi revived the technologies for exploring inner space, demonstrating that consciousness is a field of all possibilities. Transcending the surface, active level of the mind during the TM technique allows one to effortlessly fathom deeper layers of time and space within. The mind can travel faster than light and experience the whole cosmos, all within the timeless universal field of unbounded consciousness. We need to develop the infinite potential of the human mind instead of building bigger space crafts.

Growth of Consciousness

2009-04-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

In many circles of discussion, spiritual development is thought to be a matter of choice. Deepak Chopra recently wrote an article for the Huffington Post stating that "evolution or personal growth -- choose whatever term you will -- becomes voluntary once a person reaches biological maturity. You must choose to grow into insight, wisdom, love, and compassion. Our brains can adapt to all these states. Experiments with Tibetan monks have proved that their brain functioning is different and more intense in the prefrontal cortex where higher thought is centered."

According to the science of consciousness revealed by Maharishi, evolution is not merely "voluntary" and doesn't wait to kick in when a person reaches "maturity." The force of evolution and laws of cause and effect are always at work, propelling everyone forward and returning karma, good and bad. One can grow in wisdom without "choosing" to. The universe has a way of organizing what lessons we need to work through in our life's journey. It's not just a matter of choice—every creature must evolve. "All actions end in knowledge," says Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the Bhagavad-Gita : A New Translation and Commentary, Chapters 1-6. One is propelled towards higher consciousness even though some detours may be taken along the way. Of course there are choices like learning the Transcendental Meditation technique to speed one's personal growth.

The article refers to experiments on Tibetan monks where it was found that the pre-frontal cortex of the brain was activated during their meditation. In comparison, during the practice of Transcendental Meditation, the entire brain is found to be in a state of total alpha coherence, indicating a highly alert yet restful state of mind and body. Science is validating that the spiritual experience of meditators is coorelated with increased order and coherence in the brain.

About the author

2009-01-12T03:03:00.000-08:00

Jeanne Ball has been practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique since 1973, and became a teacher of the TM technique in 1975, trained by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. She has traveled the world teaching meditation, and for several years participated in a peace-creating task force, implementing the group practice of the Transcendental Meditation program in high-crime areas and war-torn countries.

As an experienced teacher of meditation and Vedic Science, her contributions to the discussion of developing higher consciousness are deep and insightful.

Jeanne enjoys yoga, Ayurvedic cooking and serving as Director of the Transcendental Meditation program of Asheville, NC. www.meditationasheville.org

Jeanne has over 35 years of experience in teaching Transcendental Meditation to children and adults of all ages and backgrounds, specializing in ADHD, ADD, addiction recovery, anxiety, depression, hypertension and
other stress related disorders. www.adhd-tm.org, www.doctorsontm.org, www.davidlynchfoundation.org

Jeanne earned a Ph.D from Maharishi European Research University in the study of Vedic literature and its relationship to modern science.
www.tm.org

Transcendental Meditation vs. Positive Thinking

2008-02-02T13:04:00.000-08:00

"Positive thinking alone is unlikely to change much of anything in the physical world. You can sit there and hope, pray, project, imagine, fantasize, visualize, make up great affirmations and just about any other kind of positive thinking idea you can imagine, and not much will change - at least not without actually getting involved, without taking some form of action towards what you want more of in your life." Russell BishopSenior Editor-at-Large, Author and Executive Coach

Many people who practice Transcendental Meditation find that their out look on life becomes more positive with out practicing 'positive thinking'. For positive thinking to work, it has to be natural and genuine. If it is contrived, it won't have the power of sincerity and conviction behind it to create successful activity.

Thinking is a spontaneous expression of how we feel. The Transcendental Meditation technique clears the mind of stress and dullness that tend to thwart our best intentions. Transcending the surface level of the mind and experiencing pure consciousness within, infuses more intelligence and creativity into the mind so thoughts are naturally optimistic and energized with positivity.

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Learning the Transcendental Meditation technique

2007-12-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

The TM technique is a specific form of meditation introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Its purpose is to provide the experience of transcending: a state of restful alertness beyond thought, an experience that revitalizes mind and body and stimulates growth of one’s full creative potential.
According to Maharishi and the organization he created to teach the Transcendental Meditation technique, learning to practice correctly requires personalized, one-on-one instruction, a series of classes and comprehensive follow-up, all taught by professionally trained teachers.

The first step in learning is to attend a free Introductory Lecture.
For an overview of the seven-step TM course, please click here.

The TM course fee
The TM technique is taught by a non-profit, tax-exempt educational organization [501(c)(3)]. When you learn the TM technique, your course tuition covers the educational expenses of teaching and supports the non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the personal benefits of meditation to people everywhere. The reason you can learn the TM technique today is because others before you have paid course fees to sustain the program.

Occasionally some asks, why is the TM technique not taught for free? Does one really need a trained and certified teacher, personalized instruction and a seven-step course to correctly practice this meditation technique and enjoy its benefits? Our experience teaching meditation around the world for the past fifty years — along with hundreds of independent, peer-reviewed scientific research studies verifying the program’s effectiveness [1] — tells us the answer is most definitely yes, that this way of teaching is necessary and works marvelously well. Millions of people who have learned the TM technique in this way would agree.

If learning the TM technique requires personalized instruction and a series of classes, obviously educational expenses will be incurred — thus the course fee.

Anyone can learn: There is a standard tuition for the TM course, with reduced rates for full-time students, couples, families, children, or anyone under financial hardship. There are also grants, scholarships and work-study programs to help cover the tuition. Due to the non-profit structure, anyone who wishes to learn the TM technique can learn. Pleasecontact us for current fees and payment options.

Is personalized, comprehensive instruction really necessary to learn to meditate effectively? And why would someone choose to learn the Transcendental Meditation technique when so many other practices can be learned more cheaply or at no cost?

Why TM practice is unique and requires personalized instruction

Uniqueness:
The operative word in describing the Transcendental Meditation technique is transcendental. During TM practice, one transcends: the mind naturally and effortlessly settles inward, away from the surface, active levels of thinking, to more settled and refined levels of the mind, until you experience the silent field of pure awareness or restful alertness at the source of thought.
Neuroscientists have found that the meditative state gained during TM practice creates “global EEG coherence.” This state of highly efficient and orderly functioning throughout the entire brain stimulates growth of creativity, intelligence and heightened awareness in daily life.[2]

A basic principle of the Transcendental Meditation program is that this experience of transcending is the primary cause of the TM technique's positive effects. TM practice is all about transcending, distinct from practices that have other purposes or engage the mind and keep it active or busy in various ways, usually on the more surface thinking levels.
According to physiological research, it is this state of “transcendental consciousness” — a fourth state of consciousness unlike waking, dreaming or sleep — that gives the most profound rest and rejuvenation to mind and body. Hundreds of scientific research studies on the effects of the TM technique support this principle that the experience of transcendental consciousness produces the widest range of benefits among the variety of meditative states.

Why personal instruction:

The process of “effortless transcending” is natural, simple and easy, but also very, very delicate; so delicate that the technique was lost to society — in the East and the West — for thousands of years simply because of misunderstanding and inadequate teaching methods.
Maharishi revived correct practice of this ancient meditation technique and structured a systematic, standardized course of personalized instruction. His sole motive was to ensure that people everywhere can learn to meditate properly and gain maximum benefit.

Maharishi spent over 50 years elucidating the principles behind the Transcendental Meditation technique, always emphasizing the need for personal, one-on-one instruction:
“By necessity, the practice of Transcendental Meditation is imparted by personal instruction. It cannot be done through a book [or CD or online training] because it not only involves telling an aspirant how to experience the subtle states of thinking, but an even greater responsibility lies in finding out what the aspirant experiences when he proceeds on that path… The experiences on the path of Transcendental Meditation are very subtle… It takes a while for the beginner to be able to pinpoint his experiences of the subtle state of thought. The practice of Transcendental Meditation must always be given by the expert teachers of Transcendental Meditation who have been properly trained to give it and who have been trained to check the experiences.” [3]

When one learns the Transcendental Meditation technique, every instruction is given out on the basis of the previous instruction being understood and acknowledged. The certified TM teacher guides the student step by step, adjusting the teaching process according to the pace of the student.

Follow-up and one-on-one support
The Transcendental Meditation course comes with extensive follow-up and personal support, offered at no further cost beyond the one-time TM course tuition. After you’ve completed your TM course, teachers remain available to provide further guidance and facilitate deeper understanding of the practice.

Personal guidance: The one-on-one support allows the opportunity for personal meetings with your teacher, as needed, arranged according to your schedule. These private, 30-minute “checking” sessions stabilize correct, effortless practice and verify experiences. It is recommended that these personal meetings be scheduled weekly for the first month and monthly for the next few months — or according to the student’s needs. This lifelong, personal support remains available as needed to everyone who has learned the TM technique.

Advanced Lectures: The follow-up also includes optional, ongoing advanced classes so that your understanding can grow along with your experiences. These advanced meetings are held weekly in most TM teaching centers and include checking and group meditation.

The Transcendental Meditation course, one-on-one support and follow-up is designed to allow each student to gain the experience and understanding they need to correctly practice the Transcendental Meditation technique on their own and gain maximum benefit in daily life.

Because there’s an established, sustainable professional organization and an initial TM course tuition, the lifetime follow-up can be offered at no charge. You can go to a TM teaching center in almost any major city and have your meditation checked or receive further guidance from the teachers.

The TM course tuition is a one-time fee for a lifetime program.

To locate a teacher near you call 1-888-learn TM

About the Author

1999-07-08T05:30:00.001-07:00

Jeanne Ball is a writer for the David Lynch Foundation, a non-profit, philanthropic organization that supports meditation projects for such diverse groups as at-risk kids, prison inmates, veterans, Native Americans, high school and college students and the homeless.

She has taught meditation and Vedic knowledge for over 25 years and is director of the Transcendental Meditation program in Asheville, NC.

Jeanne has taught meditation to children and adults of all ages and backgrounds, and specializes in teaching people with ADHD, ADD, addiction, anxiety, depression, hypertension and other stress related disorders. For many years she has been immersed in the scientific and scholarly literature on the different meditation techniques, researching the practical benefits of meditation for mind, body, behavior and environment. Her blog Meditation for Women addresses common concerns and stressors that women face, as well as women’s growth to full awakening of consciousness.

Trained as a teacher of meditation by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, she has travelled the world implementing meditation programs in inner city schools, high-crime areas and war-torn countries. As an advanced teacher of meditation, her contributions to the discussion of developing higher consciousness are always deep and insightful.

Jeanne enjoys cycling, yoga, hiking, illustrating children’s stories, studying and reciting Sanskrit, Ayurvedic cooking, and lecturing on Vedic knowledge at the Asheville Center for the Transcendental Meditation program.

About the Author

1999-07-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

She has taught meditation and Vedic knowledge for over 25 years and is director of the Transcendental Meditation program in Asheville, NC.