What is the TM technique?
It’s a simple, natural technique practiced 20 minutes twice each day while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed.
Transcendental Meditation — brought to the West in 1959 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi — is an ancient technique that's easy to learn and enjoyable to practice. It's not a religion, philosophy, or lifestyle. Over ten million people have learned it — people of all ages, cultures, and religions.
What if I “can’t meditate”?
Have you ever tried to meditate, and found you couldn’t do it because your mind is too active — or maybe the technique was uncomfortable in some way?
It’s a common experience because almost all techniques involve some kind of control or focus.
The big difference
This is what makes the TM technique completely different — it’s so easy and enjoyable that anyone can do it, even children with ADHD.
- No concentrating or focusing
- No control of the mind
- No mindfulness (monitoring of thoughts)
- No trying to “empty the mind”
How can TM be effective if it’s so easy?
Interestingly, it’s effective because it’s completely effortless. The TM technique uses the natural tendency of the mind to automatically draw your attention inward, through quieter and quieter levels of thought, until you experience your own innermost nature — the most peaceful and silent level of your mind.
Evidence-based results
The TM technique's benefits start right away, and keep growing. Hundreds of independent research studies have found major increases in calmness, creativity, energy, clarity of mind, and happiness.
Why is effort in meditation counter-productive?
Other techniques involving control (concentration or focus) or monitoring (mindfulness) tend to keep your awareness on the surface — on the active level of your mind.
The effort (even if small) required by such techniques impedes transcending. In other words, it prevents you from naturally experiencing the state of deep inner peacefulness.
Other common questions
Can I learn TM from a book or video?
Imagine trying to learn a natural golf swing or the violin. You know how valuable it is for a good teacher to show you the proper technique.
The TM technique is easy to learn, but requires personalized interactive guidance. For this reason, it’s taught only through one-on-one instruction by a certified TM teacher.
There is no other way to learn the authentic TM technique — and there is no evidence that anything else provides the full range of benefits documented in the published research on the TM technique.
What happens during TM?
The TM technique allows your mind to easily settle inward, through quieter levels of thought, until you experience the most silent and peaceful level of your own awareness — pure consciousness.
This introductory video provides a clear description of what happens during TM practice.
What if I’m skeptical?
The TM technique’s effectiveness is the same whether you believe it will work or are completely skeptical. That’s because it automatically and effortlessly allows your active thinking mind to settle down to a state of deep inner calm.