And transcendental meditation

To understand the brain basis of individuality as it pertains to hypnotiz-ability, lucidity, relaxation, and transcendental meditation, it is helpful to recognize as a didactic example how early in life traits like extroversion and introversion appear and how indelibly they persist. The child who at age five is outgoing, unselfconscious, and socially gregarious is father of the man who at age fifty is enthusiastically involved in a multiplicity of work and social projects, whereas the child who is fearful and timid is likely later in life to prefer narrow and clearly defined vocational and social roles, often pursued alone. 

Alexander, C., Robinson, P., Orme-Johnson, D. and Schneider,R., The effects of transcendental meditation compared to other methods of relaxation and meditation in reducing risk factors, morbidity and mortality. Homeostasis in Health and Disease 35(4-5), 243-263, 1994. 

Taub, E., Steiner, S., Weingarten, E., and Walton, K., Effectiveness of broad spectrum approaches to relapse prevention in severe alcohlism A long term, randomized, controlled trial of Transcendental Meditation, EMG biofeedback and electronic eurotherapy. Special Issue Self-recovery Treating addictions using transcendental meditation and Maharishi Ayur-Veda. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11 (1-2), 187-220, 1994. 

There are various types of meditation Prayer is probably the best known, but there is also TM (transcendental meditation), mindfulness meditation, and, from the Eastern tradition, Zen meditation, Buddhist meditation, and Taoist meditation. All of these types of meditation focus on quieting the busy mind. The intent is not to remove stimulation but rather to direct the concentration toward one healing element—one... 

The goals of transcendental meditation are similar to those of the relaxation response. Being derived from Eastern mystical practices, they have a distinctive philosophical and cultural spin. Instead of seeking to instill identifiable and tranquilizing mental content, transcendental meditation practitioners seek a state of consciousness that is devoid of content. This contentless consciousness is believed to be pre- or extra-existential, cosmic, or otherworldly hence the term transcendental. It is this reconnection with primordial, universal, preverbal awareness that confers the benefit of transcendental meditation. Here we are clearly in religious territory. 

Without wishing to challenge the belief systems of transcendental meditation adepts, it is possible to propose a mechanistic explanation along the same lines as those used to analyze hypnotic phenomena and lucid dreaming. In the case of transcendental meditation, the subject wishes to remain awake—or at least remain aware—but to be free of directed thoughts, organized precepts, and internal language. 

Josephson was greatly inlluenccd by transcendental meditation techniques of the 1960s and 1970s and believed that mystical experience should be incorporated into science. Ills latter research also included work in the theory of intelligence. 

One of the advisable and effective methods is Transcendental Meditation. See www.tm.org for more information. Also, using Reiki techniques (see entry 272) for meditation is a very relaxing and effective way of neutralizing physical reactions to chemicals and calming the body and soul. 

The effects of the meditation techniques of Transcendental Meditation have been scientifically researched. The effect of meditation on for example sick leave has been tested on a large scale. It turned out that there was a considerable drop in sick leave. Apart from that, people who meditated turned out to be healthier and happier. Above all, those who meditated appeared to have an influence on the energy field and therefore on their environment. There is proof that in areas where a lot of people meditate, there is for example less crime (see www.tm.org). 

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