Good Advice
Why CEOs, actors, and pop stars love Transcendental Meditation
The Beatles famously credited Transcendental Meditation with helping them write their best music. Oprah swears by her daily practice. So does billionaire hedge fund founder Ray Dalio, British comedian Russell Brand, and music mogul Russell Simmons.
In fact, the list of celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs who say Transcendental Meditation has helped them in their personal and professional lives is so long that we may need to start a new list: “Successful People Who Don’t Practice Transcendental Meditation.”
Just what is this popular style of meditation and how does it differ from others? We’ll tell you!
“TM,” the acronym used by insiders, is the practice of sitting for 20 minutes, twice a day, repeating a personal mantra given to you by a TM teacher. The technique is based on a Vedic tradition, an ancient Indian process of enlightenment. Fifty years ago, spiritual leader Maharishi Mahesh Yogi introduced the practice to the rest of the world, founding the Transcendental Meditation Program.
“A Creative Edge”
According to the program, TM allows your mind to settle into a state of pure awareness, known as transcendental consciousness. In this state, the body is at its most relaxed, and the brain supposedly has the greatest access to its creative energy. Devotees claim that TM gives them a creative edge, allowing them to be more focused throughout the day and access innovative ideas.
The David Lynch Foundation, founded by the filmmaker, makes the benefits of Transcendental Meditation available to high-stress populations
Shel Pink, founder of the cutting-edge SpaRitual line of nail polishes and cosmetics, credits TM for helping her run her successful business. David Lynch, the movie director who is arguably TM’s biggest (and most recognizably creative) spokesperson at the moment, told an auditorium of film students how indispensable TM is to the craft: “it boosts awareness of pure vibrant consciousness” and “experiencing the act of enlivening your consciousness makes creativity flow.” (Check it out here at minute 7.)
But Lynch would also say TM is not just for film students (or celebrities and CEOs). It’s also a potent healing practice. That’s why The David Lynch Foundation raises money to offer TM programs for high-stress, at-risk populations, such as inner-city students and the homeless.
Peter Trivelas, a Navy veteran who now teaches TM to other veterans, agrees that this simple practice has powerful benefits for post-traumatic stress. “TM teaches you to put your brain in a state of profound rest, so your body can begin to repair itself on a profound level.”
Transcendental Meditation’s Big Health Claims
TM probably has more medical studies behind it than any other meditation practice, which is why in addition to helping reduce the effects of stress and trauma, it’s routinely hailed as a kind of cure-all for issues ranging from high blood pressure to diabetes.
“The main thing about TM is that it’s completely effortless. It’s fine if your mind wanders; you just gently go back to the mantra,” Shel Pink.
Research suggests these claims aren’t overblown. One UCLA Medical School study on patients with heart disease found that those who practiced TM had lower blood pressure and improved blood glucose and insulin levels (linked to diabetes).
Several other studies have suggested that TM can actually slow the aging process and increase longevity among its practitioners. Not surprisingly, these anti-aging benefits regularly draw new converts (and Hollywood types), who stay for the peace of mind.
Learning TM isn’t cheap. The 3-day course costs $1,500, though scholarships are available. And then there’s the on-going investment of your time: taking 20 minutes out of your day—twice a day. How do these very busy people fit it in? “I find that when I make the time to practice TM, there’s actually more time available in the day,” Pink says. “I’m more focused and productive.” —Carla Vass
For more information, visit www.tm.org and www.davidlynchfoundation.org
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Congratulations to WellandGoodNYC.com and to Carla Vass for this excellent introductory piece regarding TM. As a long-time meditator I can fully endorse what this article says about the values of meditation in general.
Mark G
Nicely written article. Great! I only wanted to add that for people who can’t afford the tuition for TM classes, the non-profit foundation that teaches it offers grants and scholarships to help cover (or in many cases, entirely pay for) the tuition.
I’ve been practicing TM for almost a year, and what a difference it has made in my concentration, sleeep, and overall sense of well being. Meditating the TM way provides a refreshing state of consciousness,and as your article points out, there are studies to back up that this simple practice can make a huge difference. Thanks WellandGood for again being on top of what works.
Paying to learn meditation is acceptable, but paying $1500 to receive a mantra is a scam! You can get the same benefits from any type of meditation, and as for individual mantras specially chosen for you, ha ha the ego loves that! Pick a mantra, any mantra, they all lead to Rome! WAKE UP!
@ Jane: i have been practicing TM for 5 months and it has made a huge difference in my life , i feel less stressed , calmer , happier , more creative! was worth every penny i paid, trust me! Being content within yourself is priceless, you should try!
No, it’s definitely not a scam, it’s like paying tuition for any kind of classes. You can’t learn this particular meditation technique from a book or CD or someone not trained to teach it. It’s not just mindfulness or watching your breath or “meditation lite.” It’s a technique for effortlessly transcending thought, to experience the source of thought, pure consciousness, which is the essence of the mind. Learning TM requires personal instruction and a series of classes. And the non-profit foundation that teaches it gives scholarships and grants to anyone who wants to learn but can’t afford the tuition.
TM comes from the oldest, most revered tradition of knowledge on the earth. In this ancient tradition, it definitely matters what mantra or sound you use — different sounds have different effects. Different meditation techniques have different effects. People can do what they want but if you look at the research, this particular practice has been shown to produce the broadest range of benefits. I’ve tried pretty much every form of meditation out there. TM is completely different, in many ways.
I wholehearted agree with Ms. Pink, taking the time to practice TM, more spaciousness and time open up.
For many years I tried multiples types of meditation and they weren’t working, I avoided sitting. For me TM was a natural and uber easy match. Initially I had issues with the cost (it was more then) but figured the cost was equal to spending $3.50 a day for 2 years…and I’d have the rest of my life to use it. Nearly 10 years later, it has been the BEST investment I’ve made thus far. Love it!!
Learning TM properly is the best investment I ever made. My opinion is that it is very inexpensive considering the results I’m enjoying!
For those who think any type of meditation will create the same results, think again. http://www.tm.org/blog/research/different-meditation-techniques/
TM ain’t no scam. The non-profit foundation that teaches it gives scholarships & grants to people who want to learn but can’t afford the tuition.
Why is there a tuition? See: http://meditationasheville.blogspot.com/2008/10/why-should-i-pay-course-fee-for-tm-when.html
TM has infused my life as a whole with greater energy and happiness. The benefits come in all areas, no doubt because the meditator’s deepest intelligence is stimulated. People enjoy different types of meditation but I never hear about other practices having the many benefits TM brings. I am very happy I found this meditation.
Jane’s skepticism is understandable. There are so many scams around. But it just isn’t true that all forms of meditation are the same, or that you can get quality instruction for free. Researchers love TM because the beneficial effects are really there, easy to measure, unlike with other meditation techniques.
The difference is in what is done in the practice. With Mindfulness, for instance, what is done is being aware of breathing and thoughts. That is activity or observation on the level of the mind. In TM, we move right away to the level of consciousness, which is the level of life that underlies thinking, feeling, and acting. This is why TM really works.
If your only objection is money, go for a quality alternative like Natural Stress Relief (NSR). It’s cheap, but you don’t get personal instruction.
But, either way, don’t waste any more time struggling with life or with yourself. Learn transcending now.
We were skeptical about the $1,500 cost to “learn” to meditate at first. Then we read the book Transcendence by Dr. Rosenthal. My husband and I learned together and now enjoy starting our day together meditating. We have the double benefit of spending time together and greater calmness raising our teen! Our 13 year old son agreed to learn and he is reaping the benefits with higher grades and more focused direction. He routinely comes home from school and runs to his room to meditate! To fit it in during the morning our son meditates in the car on the way to school.
$1500 is unacceptable. I would love to learn and envy those who have paid and are benefiting from it. I have looked into it and discounts and scholarships are not available to everyone.
The fact that this article stresses that rock stars, celebrities and billionaire CEOs are practicing TM, says it all. Even internal happiness, mindfullness and access to teachings has become a status symbol.