Scientific research on Transcendental Meditation (TM)
Scientific research has shown that the most beneficial
meditation technique is Transcendental Meditation (TM).
The striking reduction of stress and anxiety caused by TM are 3
times greater than the effect caused by most meditation and
relaxation techniques.
Transcendental Meditation has been taught by Maharishi Mahesh
Yogi since 1958. The first articles about the beneficial effects
of TM were published around 1970 on important magazines and
scientific journals such as - Science (167, 1970),
- American Journal of Physiology (221, 1971) and
- Scientific American (226, 1972).
The basic research was conducted by two medical doctors from
Harvard University, Herbert Benson and Robert
Wallace. This research was made on dozens of American people
who used to practice this technique regularly. These people were
of any race, sex, age, job, and with different personal
political or religious belief.
Later, a lot of research was made about this technique by
several doctors and scientists, who wrote several articles on
important scientific journals such as
- International Journal of Neuroscience,
- Psychosomatic Medicine,
- Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology,
- Journal of Clinical Psychiatry,
- Journal of Clinical Psychology,
and many more.
Dr. Benson never practiced this technique himself (Dr. Wallace
did). Dr. Benson created his own relaxation technique, that is
described in his book The relaxation response
(HarperCollins, 1975, 2000), a best-seller that sold 5 millions
of copies since 1975. Dr. Benson claims that his technique
achieves the same results as Maharishi's TM. However, the actual
results achieved by TM are 3 times greater than those achieved
by the relaxation response technique, as shown by further
research (Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45, 1989; and
Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 6, 1991).
Around 1995, Dr. Deepak Chopra created the Primordial
Sound technique, that is very similar to Maharishi's
Transcendental Meditation (TM) and can be considered as much as
effective. Unfortunately Maharishi's TM and Chopra's technique
are very expensive: the price of TM is prohibitive (US$2500.00).
Chopra's technique is expensive also (starting at US$325).
Further on, a mystical atmosphere has been sorrounding the TM
technique for years, and the Maharishi organization deals with
several peculiar and weird projects that stun common people.
This has prevented TM to be appreciated as it deserves.
Transcendental Meditation is a simple, precious, effective
technique that can help anybody to be more intelligent and
creative, to live better and to reduce or remove stress, anxiety
and other disorders.
That's why former TM teachers have started teaching this
precious technique for less. For example check the websites:
www.tm-meditation.co.uk (TM Independent UK) and
www.natural-stress-relief.com.
For more information: http://transcende
ntal.meditation.onwww.net