Is TM really better than other types of meditation?
March 5, 2018 9:04 AM Subscribe
I'm attending an intro talk on TM (Transcendental meditation) tonight and am having some doubts on the way the benefits have been sold. I heard an interview with Bob Roth, then attended the talk he gave in Philadelphia, and have received a few emails from the organization. While I have no doubt on the long term benefits of TM, it seems to me they've oversold the short term experience. If you've done TM, can you tell me if it's really that different from other meditation techniques, such as mindfulness?
In Bob Roth's talk, and some of the emailed testimonials, I get the sense they're claiming you can expect an experience of deep calm in the first few minutes of learning the technique, due to the "transcendent nature" of the technique. Which they also claim is easy to learn, right away. From what I know about mindfulness, and the nature of the mind, I've always thought it took several weeks to notice any benefits. And that in the beginning, it can be boring and difficult, because you're training the mind. I'm skeptical of anyone claiming instant results.
It seems that they're saying that TM is qualitatively different than other types of meditation. If you've experienced TM, and maybe other techniques as well, do you think it is different, and does it really matter which type of meditation you use? I'm hoping to ask these questions tonight, but I'd like to get some perspectives in advance, if I can.
In Bob Roth's talk, and some of the emailed testimonials, I get the sense they're claiming you can expect an experience of deep calm in the first few minutes of learning the technique, due to the "transcendent nature" of the technique. Which they also claim is easy to learn, right away. From what I know about mindfulness, and the nature of the mind, I've always thought it took several weeks to notice any benefits. And that in the beginning, it can be boring and difficult, because you're training the mind. I'm skeptical of anyone claiming instant results.
It seems that they're saying that TM is qualitatively different than other types of meditation. If you've experienced TM, and maybe other techniques as well, do you think it is different, and does it really matter which type of meditation you use? I'm hoping to ask these questions tonight, but I'd like to get some perspectives in advance, if I can.
I've been trained in TM. It has an immediate effect that I've never felt while meditating — my body felt relaxed and present. How much that translated into larger benefits in my life is a little unclear!
Note that I believe you would find this experience with any mantra-based meditation. Which is the big distinguishing factor for TM in my experience — very very different than mindfulness meditations that I've done.
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:10 AM on March 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Note that I believe you would find this experience with any mantra-based meditation. Which is the big distinguishing factor for TM in my experience — very very different than mindfulness meditations that I've done.
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:10 AM on March 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
I've only ever done TM but the benefits were striking and immediate for both mind and body.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 11:16 AM on March 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 11:16 AM on March 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
By immediate I mean yes a bit even on the first day, but most definitely within the first couple of days.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 11:19 AM on March 5, 2018
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 11:19 AM on March 5, 2018
When I used to teach (Buddhist, Tibetan) meditation, I always told the class that mindfulness is an intermediate mediation, not a beginner mediation. Especially if you struggle with anxiety. It's hard to mindfully observe your thoughts when your mind is racing and your frame of reference is unstable.
Therefore, breath, mantra, or a feeling as an object of mediation will be easier to the beginner. Once the mind is stable it can be used to investigate other aspects of the mind. I myself have had some amazing beginners luck from new mediations...
If your agree that the purpose of mediation is to bring your mind under your control and to make it peaceful then your meditation should reflect that. Therefore, the mediation should be focused on something positive like love, or at the very least motivated by a virtuous intention.
I can't speak to TM specifically. People who love meditation looooove mediation, and thus might profess too much but just keep your wits about you and enjoy the class!.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:07 PM on March 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Therefore, breath, mantra, or a feeling as an object of mediation will be easier to the beginner. Once the mind is stable it can be used to investigate other aspects of the mind. I myself have had some amazing beginners luck from new mediations...
If your agree that the purpose of mediation is to bring your mind under your control and to make it peaceful then your meditation should reflect that. Therefore, the mediation should be focused on something positive like love, or at the very least motivated by a virtuous intention.
I can't speak to TM specifically. People who love meditation looooove mediation, and thus might profess too much but just keep your wits about you and enjoy the class!.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:07 PM on March 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
I have not done TM. From what I understand of TM, they present a fairly significant financial hurdle to newcomers. The idea of receiving a "special mantra" at a price and the secretive methodology has always made me iffy on the whole business. (I've heard people say that the financial commitment is extra incentive to commit to the process; I'm an admittedly lax practitioner so that might very well be true.) People love it and I have no doubt that meditating twice a day every day will do wonders, but I think that's true for most any type of meditation.
I think meditation has great benefits, and there are countless free/low cost/donation-based resources available to explore what works for you. I'm skeptical of anyone who's hard selling instant, seems-too-good-to-be true results. I have experienced immediate benefits with some practices, but expecting to sustain that through all practice is much like expecting to find a way to be happy 100% of the time. I find it hard to believe that TM is somehow uniquely able to do so. You might very well have a wonderful experience in your first session or you might struggle to let go of thinking for more than a few seconds. But sitting with the full spectrum of those experiences is the most important part of the practice.
posted by gennessee at 1:57 PM on March 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
I think meditation has great benefits, and there are countless free/low cost/donation-based resources available to explore what works for you. I'm skeptical of anyone who's hard selling instant, seems-too-good-to-be true results. I have experienced immediate benefits with some practices, but expecting to sustain that through all practice is much like expecting to find a way to be happy 100% of the time. I find it hard to believe that TM is somehow uniquely able to do so. You might very well have a wonderful experience in your first session or you might struggle to let go of thinking for more than a few seconds. But sitting with the full spectrum of those experiences is the most important part of the practice.
posted by gennessee at 1:57 PM on March 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
If after the "free" introduction there's a pitch for shelling out a couple thousand, it's marketing and take the promises with the same grain as an email promising riches.
As gennessee points out there are many serious meditation groups that are free or a tiny donation for room rental. A Buddhist meditation group will be as or more effective, although 'effective' is perhaps not the precise criteria. Certainly try a few before the expensive guys. (TM is not the only group that is pricey)
posted by sammyo at 2:08 PM on March 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
As gennessee points out there are many serious meditation groups that are free or a tiny donation for room rental. A Buddhist meditation group will be as or more effective, although 'effective' is perhaps not the precise criteria. Certainly try a few before the expensive guys. (TM is not the only group that is pricey)
posted by sammyo at 2:08 PM on March 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
TM is probably very different from the kind of “mindfulness” secular meditation popular right now in the US but it doesn’t have any secret that isn’t available elsewhere. As people have said, look for something like samatha meditation where you focus on a mantra.
posted by vogon_poet at 3:17 PM on March 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by vogon_poet at 3:17 PM on March 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
(and that immediate experience of tranquility sounds plausible to me but that doesn’t mean it’s sustainable or necessarily beneficial)
posted by vogon_poet at 3:19 PM on March 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by vogon_poet at 3:19 PM on March 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: TM meditator here, and erstwhile TM teacher. Not going to try to sell you on TM in general, just speak to your specific questions.
Yes, the results are usually pretty immediate. This is based on my experience and the experiences of people I've taught. Depending on your definition of "deep calm," you may or may not experience that, but you will definitely be aware that something different is going on, and you'll feel better during the day--less mental noise, more physically relaxed. Generally starting with the first meditation.
As far as being easy to learn, the important point is that TM is not about training the mind. I'd say that is the fundamental difference between TM and other types of meditation. There is absolutely no element of effort or training involved--it's a very simple mental "technique" that leverages the mind's own nature. In fact, if you're making an effort to do TM, other than the "effort" of sitting down comfortably to do it twice a day, you are literally doing it wrong. To that, I'll just add that I am still, after all these years, occasionally blown away by how something so simple can have such a profound effect.
So yes, it's true that it's easy to learn, and yes, also true that the results are both immediate and cumulative.
I'd be happy to answer any other questions you might have.
posted by bricoleur at 3:55 PM on March 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Yes, the results are usually pretty immediate. This is based on my experience and the experiences of people I've taught. Depending on your definition of "deep calm," you may or may not experience that, but you will definitely be aware that something different is going on, and you'll feel better during the day--less mental noise, more physically relaxed. Generally starting with the first meditation.
As far as being easy to learn, the important point is that TM is not about training the mind. I'd say that is the fundamental difference between TM and other types of meditation. There is absolutely no element of effort or training involved--it's a very simple mental "technique" that leverages the mind's own nature. In fact, if you're making an effort to do TM, other than the "effort" of sitting down comfortably to do it twice a day, you are literally doing it wrong. To that, I'll just add that I am still, after all these years, occasionally blown away by how something so simple can have such a profound effect.
So yes, it's true that it's easy to learn, and yes, also true that the results are both immediate and cumulative.
I'd be happy to answer any other questions you might have.
posted by bricoleur at 3:55 PM on March 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Best answer: This book is an accurate step-by-step description of how TM was taught to me. If I recall correctly (it's been years since I read it), these two guys took the course to prove it was nonsense and found out it wasn't and wrote a book about it. (Buying the book would be cheaper than taking a course.)
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 10:23 AM on March 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 10:23 AM on March 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
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I see meditation being similar to massage. You get one massage and feel great for a bit, or you get weekly massages, and not only maintain that, you are also helping your body even more.
I personally think haven’t ever really noticed a difference, and I do think it’s a personal/cultural preference.
(Also, some people don’t get an immediate sense of ease with any meditation or massage, so for those people, whichever choice you go with might take longer.)
posted by Vaike at 9:42 AM on March 5, 2018 [1 favorite]