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 and you don't have to clear your head.

More than eight million people worldwide have learned TM.

The course fee is income-based so that TM remains accessible to all.

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 as needed.

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. The lecture is completely non-binding.

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. With TM, you use a personal mantra that leads your mind naturally and completely effortlessly to stillness.

Brain activity: TM leads to coherence throughout the cerebral cortex. Mindfulness particularly activates areas related to attention and self-regulation.

Effort: Mindfulness takes practice and discipline. TM is effortless from the first moment.

Both techniques have their value. Read the detailed comparison →

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

Day 1: Personal Instruction. You will receive one-on-one instruction from your certified TM teacher (1 to 2 hours).

Days 2, 3 and 4: Follow-up meetings in small groups of about an hour and a half each.

After these four days, you can practice TM completely independently at home.

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

More than 400 peer-reviewed scientific studies published by more than 200 universities.

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

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

The EU provided a half-million euro grant in 2018 for research on TM in education.

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 choice, not a commercial restriction. An experienced teacher can tailor the technique to your personal situation.

The advantage is that after four days of the course, you can practice the technique completely independently - for a lifetime, at no extra cost.