Frequently Asked Questions about Transcendental Meditation

John Hagelin, PhD, is a world-renowned quantum physicist, educator, author, and a leading researcher on the benefits of the Transcendental Meditation technique for the individual and society. Dr Hagelin is Director of the Institute of Science, Technology, and Public Policy at Maharishi University of Management, and International Director of the Global Union of Scientists for Peace.

The Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique is a simple, effortless technique for improving all areas of life. The technique is easily learned and is practised sitting comfortably in a chair with the eyes closed for 20 minutes twice a day.

During TM practice, the active thinking mind settles down naturally to a state of “pure consciousness” where the mind is silent yet fully alert. At the same time, the body gains a profound state of rest and relaxation.

This unique state of “restful alertness” develops the total brain and eliminates accumulated stress and fatigue. This experience is the basis for the increased creativity and intelligence and improved health reported by people who practise Transcendental Meditation.

Yes. More than 600 scientific studies on the benefits of the Transcendental Meditation technique have been conducted at 250 independent universities and research institutions, including Harvard Medical School, Cornell Medical School, University of Michigan Medical School, and UCLA Medical School.

Yes. Research has been published in leading, peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals, including Scientific American, Science, the American Heart Association’s Hypertension and Stroke, and the American Medical Association’s Archives of Internal Medicine. Moreover, during the past 18 years, the National Institutes of Health has awarded over $24 million to study the beneficial effects of the TM program on heart disease, hypertension, and stroke.

No. The Transcendental Meditation technique does not require a lifestyle change. Introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi over half a century ago, the TM technique has now been learned by over eight million people of all ages, nationalities, and religions. TM meditators report that the reduced stress and increased clarity of mind resulting from Transcendental Meditation practice have helped them to appreciate life more fully—and, for religious people, to follow their religions more faithfully.

No. There are striking physiological and neurophysiological differences between various meditation techniques. For example, EEG and brain imaging technologies clearly distinguish the TM technique from all other practices, showing enhanced EEG coherence and marked improvements in the all-important prefrontal cortex (the “CEO” of the brain), which governs such key executive functions as planning, decision making, problem-solving, and judgment.

Many comprehensive meta-analyses of published studies on meditation and stress-reduction techniques clearly show that Transcendental Meditation produces highly beneficial effects for health that are not produced by other techniques. These include marked reductions in high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other stress-related disorders.

Being sceptical is fine. Fortunately, no belief or change in beliefs is required to learn and practise the TM technique—and to gain all the benefits. In fact, you can be 100 percent sceptical and the TM technique will still work.