The benefits of Transcendental Meditation

Transcendental Meditation is the most thoroughly researched programme in the field of human development. People start noticing benefits right from the start, and these benefits grow with regular practice.

Over 600 scientific studies conducted at more than 200 independent research institutions in 35 countries during the past 40 years confirm that the technique benefits every sphere of life: mind, body, behaviour and environment. Research on Transcendental Meditation has been published in more than 100 leading scientific journals, each research study being subjected to rigorous examination by independent experts. In addition, this vast body of research has been gathered into six volumes of Collected Papers: Scientific Research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programme.

For a downloadable summary of scientific research, click here

For a downloadable summary of scientific research on health, click here

Benefits of Transcendental Meditation include:

• coherence and integration of brain functioning – development of the total brain
• immediate reduction of stress and anxiety
• increased levels of happiness and fulfilment
• improved job performance and job satisfaction

• improved academic performance
• improved memory and concentration
• reduction of high blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease
• relief from insomnia
• increased calm and contentment
• improvements for people with angina, bronchial asthma, diabetes, chronic and tension headaches, allergies
• increased emotional stability, self-confidence and self-esteem
• decreased dependency on cigarettes, tranquillizers, alcohol, antidepressants, sleeping pills and non-prescribed drugs
• reversal of biological ageing

The research shows that TM is effective for
-- all cultural and ethnic groups
-- all age groups—from increased alertness in infants of meditating parents, to increased health, happiness, and longevity in meditating elderly
-- people of all socio-economic levels and intellectual abilities

Thousands of medical doctors have learned Transcendental Meditation. Many prescribe it as an effective, non-medical way to reduce stress and stress-related disorders, which are considered to lie at the basis of 80-90% of all illness.

Some findings from leading scientific and medical journals

	Journal of Clinical Psychology 1989: TM is twice as effective in reducing anxiety as other techniques of meditation or relaxation.
	Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1989: TM meditators are found to live longer than non-meditators
	Psychosomatic Medicine 1987: In a survey TM meditators compared with the norm had: 55% less tumours 67% less joint and bone disease 87% less heart disease (i.e. 7 times less than the norm)
	And people over 40 who practised TM had: 76% less surgery than others in the same age group 74% fewer doctors visits 69% fewer hospital admissions
	International Journal of Neuroscience 1982: TM meditators show a marked reduction of the ageing process
	Journal of Social Behaviour and Personality 1991: TM is three times more effective in promoting psychological growth than other forms of meditation or relaxation

Benefits for heart health

In the past 12 years the US National Institutes of Health, a department of the US government, has provided grant funding in excess of $21 million for conducting research on the effects of the Transcendental Meditation programme on disease prevention and health promotion, mainly in the field of heart disease and its associated risk factors. Click here for more information.

Some findings from medical journals on heart health

	Hypertension 1995: TM is more effective in reducing mild hypertension (high blood pressure) than progressive muscular relaxation or a 'usual care' programme. Follow-up studies confirmed sustained reductions in blood pressure
	Current Hypertension Reports 2007: TM significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure; other methods of meditation and relaxation, biofeedback, and stress management did not produce significant effects
	American Journal of Hypertension 2008:   TM leads to clinically important reductions in blood pressure, and may reduce the requirement for medication
	Archives of Internal Medicine (published by the American Medical Association) 2006:   TM reduced key components of the 'metabolic syndrome' associated with many major disorders of modern society, including CHD, type 2 diabetes, and hypertensive disease. TM decreased high blood pressure and insulin resistance
	Stroke 2000: TM reduced atherosclerosis (hardening and thickening of the arteries) without any change in diet or exercise
	Ethnicity and Disease 2007: TM improved functional capacity and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure.

The effects of TM on society as a whole

Scientific research has shown the effectiveness of Transcendental Meditation not only for reducing individual stress but also for reducing social stress and violence. This is known as the Maharishi Effect, in honour of the founder of Transcendental Meditation, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who predicted it nearly 50 years ago.

50 studies have shown that group practice of Transcendental Meditation and the advanced TM-Sidhi programme including Yogic Flying reduces crime and violence in society, decreases accidents and illness, and leads to greater progress towards peace, improved quality of life and social and economic trends. This research has appeared in leading scientific journals, including the Journal of Conflict Resolution (published by Yale University, USA). Click here to see how this approach is being applied to reduce crime and violence in South Africa.

How does the societal effect work?

Scientists propose that consciousness is a fundamental field which pervades nature - just like electromagnetism or gravity. This field has been identified by leading physicists as the Unified Field, the most basic level of nature. In much the same way as light waves and radio waves spread through the electromagnetic field, TM enlivens the field of consciousness (the Unified Field) and spreads an influence of coherence throughout the consciousness of society. This increase of coherence in collective consciousness reduces stress and violence and promotes harmony in society.

Click here to find out where to learn Transcendental Meditation, or phone 011 728 0959