Is learning transcendental meditation expensive?

Link One

Link Two

Enjoy.

Nope. It’s not rocket science, so I would recommend picking up a book somewhere, or maybe a video.

Check your local community. There may be groups that do this.
You shouldn’t pay for this. Most centers that practice meditation will likely ask for donations for operations of the facility but won’t charge outright.

There is a book called “Wherever You Go, There You Are” by Jon Cabot something like that. It is the simplest explanation of meditation I have ever read. It is not an easy thing to do, takes lots of practice, but as you feel yourself progressing and the amount of time you can keep your brain quiet increases, it is worth the effort.

The book can be purchased and read to you on Audible.com

Consider reading this
Alan Watts is the man.

Yes, its true TM is expensive but so is a Mercedes, you get what you pay for. I have been doing TM for several years and its the best. They also have long term, low interest loans and also scholarships for students and the unemployed. Call em at 888-LearnTM to find out more.

Yes, you have to pay a fee to learn TM, but if you look at the cost over 30 years, say, it works out at about $0.10 per meditation. And the benefits far out weigh the costs! I have been doing TM for years and have nothing but good effect from the twice-daily practice. It reduces stress, keeps me healthy and happy. And it is completely effortless to do, and so simple to learn. And what I also like about TM is that there are over 600 studies showing how good it is for my mind and body. Have a look at the web site www.TM.org for all scoop on the Transcendental Meditation program.

I went through the whole TM class thing years ago when it was big and I found it to be a total waste of money and time. Sit in a quiet room uninterrupted. Be comfortable. Use a comfortable chair. Sit upright. Close your eyes. Repeat the word “one” over and over in your mind. Do this for 20 minutes twice a day.

There. You’ve learned.

Don’t pay for that service. Charging big $ for the path to enlightenment is not “right livelihood”.

@rooeytoo, you’re thinking of Jon Kabat-Zinn. Here’s one resource. Here’s another.

@Jeruba – yep, that’s his name, I was too lazy to go into the next room and look at the book.

I haven’t read Mindfulness for Beginners, but have found the other one helpful. I might check it out, I see it is on audible.com also. Listening to this sort of book helps me to go to sleep at night. If only he didn’t do his own narrating, his voice is not really enjoyable to hear.

Thecompassionateheritic suggested Alan Watts, his book sounds interesting as well, are you familiar with it? It too is on audible.com with a professional narrater, might have to get it next month.

Yes, Transcendental Meditation does cost money, but it’s money very well spent. It is a wonderful technique, which has given countless people great results. It is easy to do, even a child can do it, and yet it allows anyone to reach his or her deepest potential, to tap into the unused resources of the brain, developing creativity, intelligence, emotional stability, happiness, etc. I can’t think of anything that is more worth paying for! I learned TM a few years ago and I can’t even calculate the value of what I got out of it; but it certainly exceeded, many times over (and over, and over) the cost of learning. In addition there are significant reductions for people in need, and even scholarship programs. I found that out with a quick search on www.tm.org

@rooeytoo, I didn’t have to get up, or I wouldn’t have it either. I pulled it out of my head. Heard him speak at the first Buddhism in American conference a few years back and found him very appealing.

Alan Watts is also a good source for knowledge about Zen. Different teachers’ styles work for different people. But this is not the TM of the Maharishi, if that’s what the questioner is asking for.

Yes, it does cost more to learn TM than to learn other types of meditation. There are many compelling reasons for this cost, including a comprehensive training course, taught by a highly trained, qualified teacher, plus free refresher courses and one-one-one guidance for life at no extra charge – anywhere around the world. The TM technique, and the teaching methods that are used, were carefully developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in order to bring the benefits of an ancient tradition to all the people of the world. These instructional methods help ensure that each person learns to meditate correctly and reap the benefits of DAILY PRACTICE. For those who can’t afford the tuition cost, there are grants, scholarships and low-interest loans available. Currently the cost is less than it has been for many years.

Meditation is a subtle process that cannot reliably be learned from a book or CD. One can of course be inspired by the written or spoken word, and one can learn about meditation from books or CDs, but to actually learn the practice it is very important to receive instruction from a properly trained and qualified teacher. These days, there are of course countless “gurus” who teach all sorts of meditation techniques—but it is very hard to say whether what they teach is especially effective. I started the Transcendental Meditation technique over 40 years ago and am deeply grateful for what it has given me.

One of the things that Maharishi said early on that impressed me was that, in order to determine the validity of a teaching, one should examine it from three perspectives: (1) personal experience, (2) scientific research, and (3) consistency with tradition. On all three of these dimensions, the Transcendental Meditation technique is truly impressive.

(1) I can testify to its effectiveness not only based on my own personal experience, but also based on the experience of many hundreds of other meditators that I have known over the years. They are an extremely diverse group of people, each expressing a unique combination of human qualities (including of course many shortcomings), but most of them are vibrantly healthy, joyful, creative, flexible, and strong.

(2) The TM technique has been subjected to more scientific research than any other meditation technique in the world. Several “meta-analyses” of data from these and other studies demonstrate its remarkable effectiveness, especially in comparison to other techniques. (See this overview of research.)

(3) Maharishi demonstrated an unparalleled understanding of the Vedic tradition of India and represented an ancient line of enlightened teachers. One of his most endearing qualities was his unfailing deference to his own teacher and the teachers who came before him. As a student of philosophy and practical psychology, I was especially impressed with his first two major books, The Science of Being and Art of Living and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the Bhagavad-Gita : A New Translation and Commentary, Chapters 1–6.

There are many forms of meditation, most of which can be learned for free. I would not give my money to the TM organization. It is little more than a cult. For more information I suggest you go to the TM Free Blog, which you can find easily through a google search.

The previous post is highly misleading. No meta analysis has shown “remarkable effectiveness.” One meta analysis commissioned by the NIH found many flaws with meditation research in general and TM research in particular, too many flaws to draw any conclusions as to its effectiveness.

I too started TM about 40 years ago. I wasted a number of years on the various TM techniques.

I have heard that Dr. Chopra’s system, “primordial sound meditation”, is very effective. The cost is about $325, much less than TM. Other low cost or free things are “Natural Stress Relief”, and “conscious mental rest”.