Frequently asked questions about Transcendental Meditation

Transcendental Meditation is a meditation technique introduced in the 1950s by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. You practice it twice a day for 20 minutes, sitting comfortably with your eyes closed.

During meditation, you use a personal mantra - a sound without meaning - that you repeat in your mind. This sound becomes increasingly silent, naturally quieting your mind and allowing you to experience a state of deep inner silence, also called "transcendence."

What makes TM unique is that it is completely effortless. You don't have to control your thoughts, you don't have to concentrate or clear your head. The technique works with the mind's natural tendency toward peace and stillness.

More than eight million people worldwide have learned TM. It is practiced by people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds.

The course fee is income-related, so that TM remains accessible to everyone. TM is taught in the Netherlands by the Maharishi Vedic Institute Foundation (MVI), a non-profit foundation.

The course fee includes:

• Personal one-on-one instruction by a certified TM teacher
• Three follow-up meetings to verify your technique
• Free monthly group meetings for the first six months
• Lifelong guidance from any TM teacher worldwide

Each TM center offers additional sponsorship if needed for those who cannot afford it financially.

TM is taught in many places in the Netherlands. Certified TM teachers teach in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen, Arnhem, Maastricht and many other cities.

The first step is to attend a free introductory lecture. This lasts about an hour and is given by a certified TM teacher. You will learn what TM is, how it works and what to expect from it. The lecture is completely optional - even if you are just curious, you are welcome. Feel free to bring someone along.

After the introductory lecture you can, if you wish, register for the TM course. Check tm.nl/lectures to see which teacher and location is closest to you.

Although both TM and mindfulness are forms of meditation, they differ substantially in technique, approach and scientifically measured effects.

Technique: In mindfulness, you consciously focus your attention on the present moment - observing your thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations without judgment. This requires an active, focused effort. In TM, you use a personal mantra that leads your mind naturally and completely effortlessly to stillness. It requires no concentration, no observation and no control.

Brain activity: TM leads to coherence throughout the cerebral cortex - an ordered pattern in which different brain areas begin to work in sync. Mindfulness particularly activates areas related to attention and self-regulation.

Effort: Mindfulness takes practice and discipline to bring your attention back again and again. TM is effortless from the first moment - you don't have to force anything.

Both techniques have their value. The main difference is that TM works with the mind's natural tendency, while mindfulness actively directs the mind.

TM learning is surprisingly fast. The course consists of four meetings on consecutive days:

Day 1: Personal Instruction. You receive one-on-one instruction from your certified TM teacher. This is when you actually learn to meditate. The session lasts approximately 1 to 2 hours.

Days 2, 3 and 4: Follow-up sessions in small groups of about an hour and a half each. Here your technique is verified, you learn more about the intricacies of the practice, and all your questions are answered.

After these four days, you can practice TM completely independently at home. Most people experience the benefits from the very first session.

Prior to the course you will attend a free introductory lecture (approximately 1 hour). After the course you will be invited to free monthly group meetings for the first six months.

Transcendental Meditation is one of the most thoroughly researched meditation techniques in existence:

More than 400 peer-reviewed scientific studies have been published in reputable journals, conducted at more than 200 universities and research institutes worldwide.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has recognized TM as the only meditation technique scientifically proven to effectively lower hypertension.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the U.S. has invested more than $26 million in research on TM.

Scientifically demonstrated benefits include: reducing stress and anxiety, lowering high blood pressure, improving brain functioning, reducing symptoms of PTSD, better sleep and strengthening the immune system.

The EU provided a half-million euro grant in 2018 to research TM in education in the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden. Results showed less fear of failure among students and less stress among teachers.

TM can only be learned through personal instruction by a certified TM teacher. There are no books, apps or videos with which to learn the authentic TM technique.

This is a conscious decision, not a commercial restriction. TM is a subtle, effortless technique that must be taught just right. An experienced teacher can tailor the technique to your personal situation, immediately correct you if you do something just wrong, and verify that you are practicing correctly.

Compare it to learning to play a musical instrument. You can read a book about playing the violin, but to really learn it you need a teacher who sits next to you, listens to you and corrects you.

The advantage is that after four days of the course, you can practice the technique completely independently - for a lifetime. And if you ever have any questions, you can always contact any certified TM teacher worldwide at no extra cost.