"Transcendental Meditation opens the awareness to the infinite reservoir of energy, creativity, and intelligence that lies deep within everyone. By enlivening this most basic level of life, Transcendental Meditation is that one simple procedure which can raise the life of every individual and every society to its full dignity, in which problems are absent and perfect health, happiness, and a rapid pace of progress are the natural features of life." - Maharishi

Transcendental meditation, commonly known as TM, is the most common and widely used form of meditation. This is a natural, effortless and simple meditative technique famed for its profound effectiveness. Transcendental meditation involves the repetition of a sound or a particular mantra, whose repetition, practiced with guidelines enables the mind to settle down and relax. The transcendental meditation allows one to experience the energy and creativity that is found almost everywhere. It also helps to settle the mind whilst turning it inward. During the practice of transcendental meditation the brain functions with significantly greater coherence.

The Transcendental meditation technique comes from the ancient Vedic tradition of India. It focuses on concentrating on a particular sound or a mantra. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi introduced transcendental meditation in the year 1958 and was also the leader of the Transcendental meditation movement. The teachings and ideologies of Maharishi were based on Swami Brahmananda. It all started in 1957, at the end of the festival of "spiritual luminaries", which was held in remembrance of the previous Shankracharya of the North. This movement was started by Swami Brahmananda and Maharishi with the sole intention to regenerate the world. And from that point of time the Transcendental meditation has been spreading throughout the world. It was during the 1960`s and the 1970`s that the Transcendental meditation movement began to be seen as part of the then current "counter-culture" phenomenon. During this time a number of celebrities, who include celebrity students like the Beatles and the Beach boys learned Transcendental meditation.

Procedure and theory of transcendental meditation: The Transcendental meditation technique is usually practiced twice a day for twenty minutes, in which one sits with eyes closed. The most distinguishing feature of TM is its lack of effort, as contrasted to other techniques of meditation related to concentration power or those involving active thinking.

This "Pure Consciousness" is experienced only via dhyan, a Sanskrit term which Maharishi equates with Transcendental meditation. Dhyan involves concentration or contemplation.

It is through Transcendental Meditation technique, the mind unfolds its potential for unlimited awareness which is the state of transcendental awareness - a lively field of all potential, where every possibility is naturally available to the conscious mind. The conscious mind becomes aware of its own unbounded essence, its infinite potential. Transcendental Meditation provides a way for the conscious mind to fathom the whole range of its existence - active and silent, point and infinity. Transcendental meditation is not a set of beliefs, a philosophy, a lifestyle, or a religion. It`s an experience, a mental technique one practices every day for 15-20 minutes. According to Maharishi`s theory of Consciousness or Enlightenment, there are seven stages of consciousness, of which the first three are very common to all. And the rest fulfill the definition of enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal of long term practice of Transcendental meditation.

Benefits of transcendental meditation
Easy to learn and enjoyable to practice, transcendental meditation has immense benefits. It is a simple, natural and effortless procedure which enriches all areas of life. In the ancient Vedic science, Transcendental Consciousness is considered highly beneficial. As many hundreds of studies on the Transcendental Meditation technique have demonstrated, regular experience of Transcendental Consciousness does in fact dramatically improve both physical and mental functioning.