Difference between mantra meditation and t.m?

Question

Does anybody who knows about meditation and or has done trancendental meditation know the differences between them. As i have been doing minfullness a bit on an off really and started doing mantra as i found it easier to actually bring my mind back to something other than just 'awareness' as i probably don't have much realisation of what that really is yet lol. Anyway i was interested in T.M as it is meant to be very impressive but my mum said theres no difference between that and mantra and went on a weekend course once to do it about 15 years ago though.

Answer 1

Transcendental meditation is a form of mantra meditation. Some folks think that particular "mantras" have magical powers, but research has shown that any calming or neutral phrase ahs a beneficial effect.

Mantra" technique (choose a personal "calm" word or phrase that you will repeat in your meditation - it can be from your religion or something as simple as "one" or "calm" – I use the nonsectarian “Be One. Be Peace” or “Be One. Be Love. Be Peace.”) - 1) and 2) as above in the Breathing meditation. 3) Listen to your breathing and let it relax you with each breath. 4) Once you are relaxed, mentally "hear" your "calm" word or phrase in your mind. Let it repeat in your mind. 5) Don't fight a wandering mind, but calmly direct it back to task. 6) Sit for a minute afterwards.

That is all there is to this very simple but beneficial meditation technique. Many people think that something "mystical" should happen during meditation. Most often "nothing" happens and "nothing" should be expected.

Oh yes, and it didn't cost me anything to learn nor were there any "initiations" involved.

Some good resources on "secular" meditation are "The Calm Technique" by Paul Wilson as well as "The Relaxation Response" by Herbert Benson. If you need more formal "assistance" or "training" then I would look into Natural Stress Relief which was founded by former Transcendental Meditation instructors upset at the rising cost and ongoing superstition associated with TM. They charge $47 for their training compared with the $2,500 that TM would charge you.

http://www.naturalstressreliefusa.org/

Answer 2

TM ("transcendental meditation") is a form of mantra meditation. I am not involved in the TM group although I know a person is expected to pay a lot of money for an initiation and then is given a standard mantra consisting of a "seed syllable" (a kind of mystical syllable associated with a god or goddess in the Hindu pantheon) and the name of a Hindu deity. This is the mantra that is repeated over and again.

This is not some special unique thing provided by the TM people. Any person who goes to study with any Indian guru/mentor who is teaching some form of yoga or Hinduism will give students one or more mantras to repeat as a meditation practice. The mantra will usually consist of a mystical syllable and the name of a deity. The teacher may also give the student some relevant visualization to go along with the mantra. Mantras are also used in some forms of Buddhism and are sometimes very long and are more like "prayers." This was my experience with Tibetan Buddhism at least. "Mantra" as a repetition of the divine name is also practiced in certain contemplative and mystical forms of Christianity (and Sikhism and I'm sure many other religions).

If you want to practice mantrayana as a form of meditation, you don't have to go to a TM specialist or run around looking for a guru (and run away like you've encountered the plague from "gurus" who charge money for their "services" or who have devotees who are overly in awe of them). Think of a name or word that is meaningful and inspiring to you. Repeat it silently with the rhythm of your breath. If it helps, buy a mala to count beads with along with the mantra. If you find a teacher who will initiate you into a mantra, then that's great too.

Answer 3

Mantra recitation (japa practice), as a form of cultivation technique to help you calm your mind, have been around for ages and appear in almost every religion. Reciting the Jesus Prayer, as is done in the Eastern Orthodox Church, is in effect mantra practice. One of the most powerful ways to practice mantras is in conjunction with visualization techniques, as is done in the yoga schools and Tibetan Buddhism. If you engage in one pointed visualization on a chakra location, and imagine themantra as coming from that point, in time your chi will go there and help open up chi channels in the region. Then you'll really get gongfu, which is the Asian word for spiritual progress.

There are hundreds of mantras you can use -- use the time tested ones. Many fo them contain the AH sound. Even most holy words contain the sound - Allah, Jehovah, Brahma, Amitofo, etc.

Don't spend money on learn mantras...they're free. If you have to spend money to learn a mantra, you're probably being cheated.

A powerful mantra is the Zhunti mantra, found in Buddhism. Hinduism has the famous Gayatri mantra. Other schools have other mantras. It makes sense to choose a mantra that seems to have a history of producing masters, saints and sages with realization who've used it instead of some mantra you simply like. The ones you hate to practice are usually the ones doing the most for you, i.e. changing you and your karma, which is why you hate them.

In short, mantras are a great type of cultivation practice...you can say them out loud, whisper them, or recite them mentally, which is genrally agreed to be the highest form of practice. After doing sop for a while, if you mind become squiet then STOP and look within -- the mantra recitation has been effective. That's the point - to recite until you quiet your mind simply from the act of listening, and drumming out thoughts.

Answer 4

Namaste,

I have been practicing and teaching Chakra Mantra Meditation for 17 years, and yes there is a difference between this disipline and TM as you immediately receive empowering shifts as you uncover your own dorment power...not someone else's version of it.

Answer 5

one cannot sit silent like Buddha from the beginning of meditation, so lot of people uses mantras so mantra helps to concentrate on one thing, but after you tired of chanting the mantra you will become silent and what you called Buddhist meditation and about realization only few had realization one who realized never says i realized

Answer 6

I talked to a person who taught TM...they charged a lot and then told me my mantra was all wrong, only theirs was right..I wasn't favorably impressed with TM at all...won't be learning that...

Answer 7

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