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— CH. 1 · ORIGINS AND FOUNDER —

Transcendental Meditation

~3 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
6 sections

  • In 1955, a young Indian teacher named Maharishi Mahesh Yogi began publicly sharing a meditation method he had learned from his spiritual master. His master was Brahmananda Saraswati, who held the honorific title Guru Dev. The technique started as Transcendental Deep Meditation before being renamed Transcendental Meditation in the late 1950s. The Maharishi taught thousands of people during a series of world tours that began in India and expanded internationally starting in 1958. He expressed his teachings using spiritual and religious language during these early years. This approach laid the foundation for what would become a global movement.

  • The movement gained significant momentum in the 1960s when celebrities like members of the Beatles and the Beach Boys began practicing the technique. By 1977, estimates suggested there were 900,000 participants worldwide, with Time magazine noting 600,000 in the United States alone. The organization grew to include educational programs, health products, and various related services. Following the death of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 2008, leadership passed to neuroscientist Tony Nader. Related organizations such as the Global Country of World Peace and the David Lynch Foundation have continued to promote the practice. The movement claims to have five million followers globally today.

  • Practitioners sit with their eyes closed and silently repeat a specific mantra for fifteen to twenty minutes twice each day. Certified teachers deliver this method through a standard seven-step course structure available around the world. Fees vary depending on the country and individual financial circumstances. Beginning in 1965, schools, universities, corporations, and prison programs started incorporating the technique into their operations across the US, Latin America, Europe, and India. In 1977, a US district court ruled that teaching TM alongside the Science of Creative Intelligence violated the First Amendment in New Jersey schools. Advanced courses supplement the basic practice with an optional program called the TM-Sidhi program.

  • The global network includes nonprofit organizations like the Spiritual Regeneration Movement, the International Meditation Society, and the World Plan Executive Council. Critics have labeled the group a cult following parliamentary inquiries in several countries. The organization operates teaching centers, schools, universities, health centers, and even home financing companies. Reports estimate the net worth of the global organization at three point five billion dollars. Legal challenges regarding religious status arose when courts determined the movement dealt with ultimate concerns similar to recognized religions. Some critics argue the group disguises religious claims within pseudo-scientific language while others defend its secular nature.

  • Medical studies on Transcendental Meditation began appearing in the early 1970s. A 2012 meta-analysis found the practice had comparable effects on general well-being as other meditation techniques. Another review from 2017 suggested the method might lower blood pressure similarly to other lifestyle interventions. The American Heart Association stated it could be considered for treating hypertension though exercise remains more effective. As of 2004, the US government provided over twenty million dollars to Maharishi International University for research purposes. Conflicting findings across different reviews indicate that further unbiased research is necessary before drawing definitive conclusions about health benefits.

  • Skeptics describe the Science of Creative Intelligence as pseudoscience because it promises abilities beyond natural laws. Astrophysicist Carl Sagan called the Hindu doctrine behind TM a form of pseudoscience. In 1979, the court case Malnak v Yogi determined the teachings were not a theistic religion but dealt with issues analogous to recognized religions. Critics like James Randi argued the research lacked scientific characteristics and resulted from cherry-picked data. The Maharishi effect claims that square root of one percent of the population practicing together would improve global quality of life. This concept lacks a causal basis according to independent researchers who point to evidence resulting from credulity rather than empirical proof.

Common questions

Who founded Transcendental Meditation and when did he start teaching it?

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi founded the practice in 1955 after learning from his spiritual master Brahmananda Saraswati. He began publicly sharing the method that year before renaming it Transcendental Meditation in the late 1950s.

How many people practice Transcendental Meditation today and how does one learn it?

The movement claims to have five million followers globally as of recent estimates. Practitioners sit with their eyes closed and silently repeat a specific mantra for fifteen to twenty minutes twice each day through certified teachers who deliver the method via a standard seven-step course structure.

When did celebrities like the Beatles begin practicing Transcendental Meditation?

The movement gained significant momentum in the 1960s when celebrities including members of the Beatles and the Beach Boys started practicing the technique. By 1977, estimates suggested there were 900,000 participants worldwide with 600,000 located in the United States alone.

What happened to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and who leads the organization now?

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi died in 2008 and leadership subsequently passed to neuroscientist Tony Nader. Related organizations such as the Global Country of World Peace and the David Lynch Foundation continue to promote the practice under this new direction.

Is Transcendental Meditation considered pseudoscience by critics and what legal rulings exist regarding its status?

Skeptics describe the Science of Creative Intelligence as pseudoscience because it promises abilities beyond natural laws while astrophysicist Carl Sagan labeled the Hindu doctrine behind TM as a form of pseudoscience. In 1979 the court case Malnak v Yogi determined the teachings were not a theistic religion but dealt with issues analogous to recognized religions.

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All sources

126 references cited across the entry

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