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| Transcendental Meditation; TM: anybody ever try this? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 18 2005, 10:28 PM (141 Views) | |
| Franko | Aug 18 2005, 10:28 PM Post #1 |
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Shower Moderator
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Back in the seventies/early eighties there was quite a fascination with the allure of what was considered "eastern mysticism". While a lot of my post-high school friends were experimenting with MDA, LSD and other narcotics, Franko decided to try the Maharishi's TM institute after meeting some people who claimed to get a lot out of it. They gave me a book called, "Serenity Without Drugs", which was sort of the flagship book of the TM institute (founded by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi) that included meditation principals that went back through antiquity to even before the writings of the Bhagavad Vita. (sp) At any rate, I paid a mere eighty dollars at the time to take the course, whose only requirements was that for greater effectiveness one should be drug-free (including marijuana) for at least several weeks so as to clear your conciousness. I was privately instructed by a nice TM teacher who gave me my own personal mantra, the "active ingredient" in how TM works. In my first week of practice, I attended the evening workshops with the new initiates, so that we could be guided into the subtleties of effective use of the TM technique. I wasn't dissapointed. TM (Transcendental Meditation) does work. It's not a gimmick, or just some kind of meditational head game. It took me a few days to get the hang of it; you have to use the Mantra that they think is suitable for you (and don't tell anyone you're private mantra) more like a taxi instead of a race car, if you get my drift. At any rate, after about a week I stuck to the regimen of meditating for 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the early evening. We had been instructed to always meditate on an empty stomach, since deep spikes during the meditation cycle can slow bodily functions down (therefore inducing indigestion). During the second week I began to experience the first of some rather "impressive" meditation sessions. The first five minutes were sort of a preparatory thing, and the last five minutes was sort of like "coming back to the surface", so to speak. It was during that middle ten minutes where one could sometimes truly "transcend". It's hard to describe what it's like really; it is not unpleasant or unnerving, but can be quite profound. But the proof in the pudding was after the twenty minute session was over, and you opened your eyes again and rejoined the regular world. Sometimes I would feel revitalized, mellow, relaxed, and an overall glow of well-being. "Serenity without drugs". So I practised it dilligently for the next few months; unlike a couple of my other friends who had taken it who soon fell away and went back to boozing and grass. I felt that TM was helping me in some ways; I felt I had more energy, but that could also be attributed to the martial arts I briefly practised at that time. I felt that it was helping me be more creative as well, since I was a developing rock musician around that time; but it's hard to say. At no time did I think that there was anything "spiritually" wrong with it, since I wasn't exactly embracing eastern mystical gurus or anything; I still pretty well though along the lines of my Judeo/Christian upbringing. Why did I stop? There were three significant factors to this. The first and foremost being that I thought after a while it was leading me in a direction or state of conciousness that somehow didn't seem to be "me". People noticed that I was beginning to become more "passive"; perhaps not a bad thing, but in those days I often was more the "life of the party" rather than the quiet monk sitting in the shadows. Either that, or I was just watching a little too much of "Kung Fu" a la David Carradine. The second consideration was the fact that TM wasn't answering my questions about life or philosophy. Yes, it was an interesting experience of the mind, but I somehow had always believed that "enlightenment" was possible through sheer intellectual effort. TM seemed to be modulating a lot of my reactions to situations that kind of went against the grain of traditional aggressiveness to solve problems and deal with complicated situations. And thirdly, I had an experience one day where for a moment I drifted into a deep state of conciousness that stayed with me for several hours, and even affected my dream state that night. Like a part of me was locked into some variant dimension of cognition; again, not really threatening or "sinister", but sort of "alien". Like I was practising the mystical arts of a culture that might as well have been from another planet. I made up my mind to quit the next day. Since then I have never indulged in it again, nor would I ever re-examine it. In the end I realized it just wasn't for me; even though I've met other people who have practised TM for years and are alright with it. I realize that what's best for me is a good cup of coffee and a rousing discussion of philosophy, conciousness and mysticism. Any insights that I may have gained during TM where things that I already had sort of felt or experienced since childhood. And since then I certainly have not needed such a practise to recapture some of the sweeter impressions of reality that I experienced during childhood. I niether condemn Trancendental Meditation nor recommend it. I suppose it might be just the thing for some people. But not for me. If you've read this whole article, thanks. This is one of the more personal things I 've ever posted at SisterTrek but at this point I'm quite comfortable with it, since I've come to respect the spritual and philosophical integrity of my brothers and sisters here. As usual, comment is invited. Franko. |
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| Swidden | Aug 18 2005, 11:40 PM Post #2 |
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Adm. Gadfly-at-large; Provisional wRench-fly at large
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My experiences with it do not run as deep or formal as your own. I find that in some ways my mind fights to remain active. However, the breathing, centering, and even the idea of the use of a mantra have proven useful to me on occasion. Especially, if I find myself experiening sleeplessness. |
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| psyfi | Aug 19 2005, 12:58 AM Post #3 |
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psyfi
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Franko, throughout my life, starting around 19, I tried different types of meditation and I have to say that my experience was much like yours. Then, when I was about 39 and at the end of a relationship that just left me heartbroken, I had a rather bad bout of colitis. I got into therapy to reduce my stress and the therapist told me to just take a few minutes every day and start to say, "Relax, Relax" to myself. I began to do it and almost immediately I felt this voice, a loud voice within my mind ask, "Why are you saying 'relax' when you could be calling on God?" The voice kind of scared me but it also made sense. And so I began with five minutes a day in the morning and in the evening simply repeating, "God. God. God. God." (I have since come to learn this is a form of centering prayer but I didn't know that at the time). Anyway, I continued doing this until two years later, I was easily repeating within myself, "God. God. God" for one and half hours in the morning and one and a half hours at night. AND THEN things really started to change in a big and major way. Not one for reading the bible, I started to have dreams in which I was given bible verses. These verses always perfectly addressed some situation I was going through. I also realized that I had not had an attack of colitis in one and a half years! Further, I had some out of body experiences that were beautiful and amazing. Shortly afterward, somebody sent me "A Course in Miracles" and for me this answered every spiritual question I had ever had in my entire life. It suddenly all made perfect sense. So, finally, I did feel that I had a direction in life. I felt that I did understand the meaning of life. I am literally a different person today that I was before I started that meditation/centering prayer, call it what you will. I feel empowered, connected to God, more loving, more forgiving, less vengeful (and I was one vengeful person!). I have had miracles. All I can say is that choosing that form of meditation was the best step I ever took in my entire life. |
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| Franko | Aug 19 2005, 04:05 AM Post #4 |
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Shower Moderator
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"Knock and it shall be opened unto you". Sometimes it takes a while, though, before we find the right door. In a way, I suppose that in the end I decided that I was more comfortable with exploring my inner domain within the context of Judeo/Christian conceptualism. BTW, I appreciate and respect many of your posts that discuss your personal transformations and experiences. I've come to realize how progressive your thinking actually is on some of these matters. I have a lot of issues about "doctrines" which I try to keep seperate from my actual spiritual/philosophical side. Plus my big fat ego sometimes gets in the way. Franko. |
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| who | Aug 19 2005, 06:26 AM Post #5 |
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Have light saber. Will travel.
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I also tried TM and used it for some time. I spent a month with the Maharishi on retreat. After awhile I found that it was not as effective as I would have liked. My mind would either become too silent or my thoughts would wander. There was a certain amount of mental activity required to keep the mantra going. I then moved to the light & sound machines that provided an external mantra. I then moved to the tapes from THE MONROE INSTITUTE which were even more effective. I now find that I simply need to go within without any specific technique. I believe in God. I also believe that part of our mind is very active in keeping God from our awareness. It may be that, that part of your mind turned you away from meditation. I do not believe you will find enlightenment with "a good cup of coffee and a rousing discussion of philosophy, conciousness and mysticism." |
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| psyfi | Aug 19 2005, 08:11 AM Post #6 |
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psyfi
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Thank you for your kind words. Your bible quote is perfect and, actually, when I realized that the inner changes that were taking place in my life had brought me into relationship with God and a far greater connectedness with Him that was exactly the quote that came to me! |
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