Transcendental Meditation

I once had a professor in college who required our class to have a “mind cleansing” routine before he began his lecture. This “mind cleansing” routine was done in silence; we were instructed to keep our eyes closed the whole time and “think of nothing.”

It sounds simple, but I remember the first time I attempted this standard operating in my professor’s class---those 15-20 minutes of silence; of eyes closed; of thinking of nothing---were torture.

I am not ashamed to admit, the whole “thinking of nothing” concept really unsettled me. I was unnerved with my sudden stillness. I was not used to the imposed, supposedly relaxing and mind-cleansing technique. I was uncomfortable that I had to have my eyes closed the whole time. I hated it that I heard everything around me but I couldn’t look at or see what it was I heard.

--- It was indeed a fidgety first experience in thinking of nothing for me. I couldn’t even understand how I was supposed to think of nothing when almost everything just bothered me.

I recall that after that initial mandatory exercise, I felt it was the longest 15-20 minutes of silent, eyes-closed and “thinking of nothing” moment in my life. I also realized that I failed at my initial attempt in this exercise. I was unable to relax and enjoy the experience. I was probably thinking of so many things that my mind was lost in mid-air, being suddenly deprived of doing something.

I think I wasn’t alone in feeling that way. My classmates and I were all skeptical and critical about it. We wanted to know if there was a purpose to the 15-20 minute thinking of nothing routine—as it seemed like such a waste of time.

My professor then explained the exercise to the class,he said that his “mind cleansing” routine was based on the principles of “Transcendental Meditation.” What he wanted us to achieve in the long run was a calm, alert and awake mind, body and spirit ready for anything academic or practical. The compulsory mind cleansing exercise before lecture began supposedly helped us to achieve this.

Transcendental Meditation

According to the Transcendental Meditation Program website, Transcendental Meditation “is a simple, natural, effortless, easily-learned mental technique practiced for 15 to 20 minutes twice daily, sitting comfortably with the eyes closed.”1 Furthermore, “During Transcendental Meditation the mind settles down to a silent, yet fully awake, state of awareness -- pure consciousness. At the same time the body gains a unique and profound state of rest and relaxation.”2

The ideology, concept, teachings and practice of Transcendental Meditation or TM first came about in 1955, through Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It is said that Maharishi Manesh Yogi derived this meditating technique the Vedas – the sacred texts of Hinduism, after his teacher died.

Transcendental Meditation was brought to the west in 1957 and is arguably the most popular kind of meditation as a number of rock and pop stars since the 60’s have been advocating this discipline.

Thinking of Nothing

Is it even possible to think of nothing? Apparently it is.

When your mind is clear, and you’re not worrying or reflecting deeply of anything, you’re just savoring the moment—you are actually thinking of nothing. This whole “thinking of nothing” condition seems impossible to describe but put it this way, this state is a conscious yet natural effort of relaxing oneself.

By a “conscious” effort in “thinking of nothing,” it means that you personally will for and do something to happen or take effect. The thing is, in this exercise, this conscious effort should not be forced—that will completely and obviously defeat the purpose. Aside from willing yourself to think of nothing, this resolve of yours should be natural and effortless.

It’s a paradox to begin with, but the concept seems to work side by side. By allowing your mind to rest and think of nothing, you give your being and body, the opportunity to revert to a state of homeostasis or equilibrium.

Restful Awareness

Experts say that when the process of thinking of nothing is achieved, the body and mind falls into a state of “restful awareness.” Apparently, in this restful awareness, your mind and body are completely and deeply rested at the same time totally aware of yourself vis-à-vis your environment.

It seems wonderful to be at a state of restful awareness. I can only imagine this—as I am still unsuccessful in truly disciplining my mind to think of nothing. I can probably liken this feeling to waking up in the morning and getting ready for work with a full night’s rest, only better because you’re awake and alert the whole time. Scientific Studies on Transcendental Meditation show that the “TM technique produces a physiological state of restful alertness, distinct from ordinary waking, dreaming, and deep sleep.”3

It’s not that I’m discouraging anyone from getting complete sleep. Neither am I advocating people to replace sleep with Transcendental Meditation. All I’m saying is that Transcendental Meditation benefits individuals because it serves as a complementary method to attain long-term optimal health and daily performance.

When your mind is unable to relax, usually your body will not be able to relax as well. Maybe the internal and external chaos is ok to deal with now, but sooner or later, you will feel the stress. Transcendental Meditation helps people focus on what is really important. It enables people to find tranquility, peace, and calm even at the height of the frenzy. Just imagine the time that you will no longer be stressed out because you’ve got everything under control and you’re well rested—that would be the day! Everything is interconnected somehow, eventually your state of mind will reflect to your bodily systems; and if you have a very healthy and beautiful state of mind, then your health will definitely be better. If you’re healthier and stronger, then you can perform the daily tasks in a more satisfactory way.

Going back to my professor in college who introduced Transcendental Meditation to our class, well we religiously did the 15-20 minute mind cleansing exercise. Although I wasn’t able to perfect it, I was eventually able to still myself a bit and get used to the routine. I also found that during that time I was practicing “thinking of nothing,” I was calmer and less manic with my decision-making matters and school work. I was also able to gain more self-control and discipline. Not to mention that the class discussions in my professor’s class also developed from being restless and dull at the start of the semester, to productive and participative at the end of the semester.

I may not be an authority who can successfully and explain the essence of Transcendental Meditation, but there’s no harm in trying it. Besides, out of 24 hours in a day, what’s 15-20 minutes of “thinking of nothing” going to lose? If it matters, I think it will even help us pause and take a step back before jumping into things.

Let me leave you with this quote from Dr. Ronald David of the John F. Kennedy School of government, as it provides a lot of insight for Transcendental Meditation:

"For me Transcendental Meditation is much more profound than simply a physiological way of relaxing. It's a way of becoming whole, of experiencing our own deep inner connectedness as human beings. That experience gives a far greater capacity for health and healing."