Meta-analyses (statistical analysis of multiple research studies) have found that TM is more effective than other meditation or relaxation techniques in producing a range of results. These two approaches to meditation come from different traditions, are practiced differently, have different effects on the brain, and are different in the way they are learned. Transcendental meditation comes from the Vedic tradition and was introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Mindfulness stems from the Buddhist tradition, and was popularized in the West by Jon Kabat-Zinn.
Transcendental meditation is described as a simple, natural and effortless meditation technique that does not involve contemplation or concentration. One uses a mantra as a vehicle to let the mind naturally settle and, ultimately, to transcend thought. Mindfulness meditation involves training the mind to be in the present moment. It usually involves passive attention to one's breathing, sensations, and thoughts during meditation, sometimes generically referred to as open monitoring.
In this sense, the main difference between the two is that the goal of mindfulness meditation is to have one's thoughts in the present moment, whereas with Transcendental Meditation, the goal is to transcend thought itself and experience a state of pure consciousness, in which one is conscious but without a object of thought. These different approaches to meditation and the different subjective experiences during meditation are clearly reflected in the contrasting neurophysiological states associated with each practice. Transcendental Meditation has been found to activate the brain's network by default, which is a natural resting state of the brain. Mindfulness meditation turns off the default network mode, plus the EEG signatures or brainwave patterns associated with each practice are also different.
Transcendental meditation is characterized by alpha brain waves and mindfulness meditation by theta brain waves. Alpha is associated with relaxation, while theta is associated with readiness to process incoming signals. Finally, the two approaches to meditation are learned in different ways. TM can only be learned from a certified teacher, who has been extensively trained and who teaches the technique in a very precise way.
The teaching and practice of the technique is standardized. With mindfulness, one can learn the technique in a variety of ways, and there are somewhat varied interpretations of how it should be practiced. A good way to learn is to take the 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course developed by Kabat-Zinn. But you can also learn mindfulness from various websites or books or magazine articles.
The final objectives of each technique also differ. With TM, long-term practice can result in a state of cosmic consciousness, in which the experience of transcendence is always present in one's consciousness, even during activity. One comes to experience oneself as universal and omnipresent. One's identity passes from the individual to the cosmic.
With mindfulness, the ultimate goal is to always be in the present moment, with greater clarity and concentration. Interestingly, a randomized controlled trial found that, although the goal of TM is not to cultivate the present-moment experience that mindfulness meditation strives for, those who practice TM increase in this experience after three months of practice. When deprived of external stimuli, as in formal meditation, the mind can inevitably wander to a thousand unexpected places. Meditation exists in several different forms, ranging from techniques that range from focusing on breathing, an image or sound to walking and other forms of movement.
Mindfulness can be learned by reading a book or attending an informal or community-led meditation class. Meditation exists in many different forms, but the three most common types of meditation are concentrative, mindfulness, and transcendental meditation. Mindfulness meditation is perhaps the most accessible and popular form in today's Western world, but determining which practice is “best” comes down to individual goals. Transcendental meditation, also known as TM for short, is a simple and effective form of meditation that research shows is quite effective in minimizing anxiety, helping people manage stress, and even lowering blood pressure and providing other benefits.
One of those unique but easy forms of meditation is Transcendental Meditation (TM), which is practiced by millions of people around the world. However, not all clients are receptive to meditation or are willing to incorporate formal practice into their daily lives. While Kabat-Zinn's definition describes a way of relating to oneself and one's environment, Walsh and Shapiro define a formal practice aimed at altering or improving one's mental state. DBT doctors guide clients to mindfulness without ever engaging in formal practice.
Fortunately, there are many informal ways to practice mindfulness, such as mindful eating, mindful walking, or even mindful conversation. The main difference between transcendental meditation and other forms of meditation is the mantra you are asked to repeat during a meditation session. Unlike other forms of meditation, TM involves chanting a single mantra repeatedly in a quiet room without distractions. There are other simple meditation techniques, such as sitting quietly with aromatherapy and focusing on olfactory sensations, a form of meditation based on mindfulness, or sitting quietly in a bath and focusing on physical sensations, also based on mindfulness.
Practicing mindfulness informally means participating in daily activities with the intention of being mindful. TM is a form of silent mantra meditation introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1975 to promote a state of relaxed consciousness. . .
