Transcendental meditation, commonly known as TM, is the most common and widely used form of meditation. This meditation involves the repetition of a sound or a particular mantra, whose repetition, practiced with guidelines enables the mind to settle down and relax.

History:
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi introduced it in 1958. He was also the leader of the Transcendental meditation movement. According to him, his principles and teachings are based on his master and teacher Guru Dev Brahmananda Saraswati. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was born on January 12th, 1917 near Jabalpur, a small town in Madhya Pradesh. After completeing his studies he became a deciple of Guru Brahmananda who gave him the name Bal Brahmacharya Mahesh. He practiced meditation in retreats for long periods in the Himalayan foothills. In 1955 he assumed the title "Maharishi" and began publicly teaching of his meditation techniques, which he later named Transcendental meditation. 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 basically to regenerate the world. And from that point of time the Transcendental meditation has been spreading throughout the world. It is believed to have been taught worldwide to over 5 million people. Even the number of TM teachers has increased to tens and thousands in number. And the number of people who continue and still practice it today is continuously increasing.

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.

Maharishi`s headquarters are in the town of Voldrop in Netherlands. And since 1990 he has coordinated all his global activities from here. In 1970 Maharishi came up with a "world plan" to establish one Transcendental meditation center. Maharishi also founded a nationally accredited university, Maharishi International University, which began offering classes in 1973 in California and relocated to Fairfield, USA in 1974.

Procedure and theory:
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.

The Transcendental meditation technique comes from the ancient Vedic tradition of India. It focuses on concentrating on a particular sound or a mantra. When a new candidate or a meditator joins in for Transcendental meditation he or she is given a specific mantra, which one has to keep a secret from other, as that mantra is particularly the private property of that particular meditator. Sometimes, agreement forms are also made to sign regarding the same.

Transcendental meditation produces a state of "restful alertness" in ones mind and body. This was first found by the research on Transcendental meditation technique conducted at UCLA and Harvard Medical School. It was also published in Science, American journal of Physiology and Scientific American. According to Maharishi, the deepest state of rest in this form of meditation is called "Pure Consciousness". The TM organization emphasizes on the procedure for use of the particular mantra. The use of this mantra can be learnt only from a trained teacher authorized by the TM movement.

This "Pure Consciousness" is experienced only via dhyan, a Sanskrit term which Maharishi equates with Transcendental meditation. Dhyan involves concentration or contemplation. Transcendental Meditation instead makes use of the "natural, expansive response of the mind". According to Maharishi, concentration isn`t the correct translation for dhyan. Infact, that meditation that used concentration results in a failure of Transcend.

Theory of Consciousness:
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.

Technique of Transcendental meditation:
The Transcendental meditation technique is easy to learn, enjoyable to practice and enriches all areas of life. It is a simple, natural and effortless procedure which needs to be practiced for 20-minutes twice a day, sitting comfortably with closed eyes. This practical method requires no effort or concentration, no special skills and neither any change in ones lifestyle.