Transcendental Meditation (TM)

 

Halloween of 1975. More than 44 years before the date of this writing.
 
After years of chronic ulcers.... ulcers so bad that I would, without warning, at any time and in any place, simply double over in debilitating pain that left me lying where seconds before I had been standing ... I was taking my turn in a group that was waiting to be inducted into the Transcendental Meditation tradition.
 
So much mystery and so much hocus pocus. What had I signed up for? What had I thrown my money at? I had finished the prep on Friday night, and again more prep on Saturday. Now it was Sunday and I was about to be gifted the TM technique. 
 
It was a rather short initiation and instantly I was experiencing a blissful state of mind. All the hocus pocus was gone, things made sense and 28 yr old me started to tear up with joyful gratitude. I just knew that I had stepped off the edge of my old life and my path was forever changed. And, I just knew that things were on a course for a better, more joyous life.
 
45 years ago not much was know about ulcers. Today , of course they are treated with courses of antibiotics but back then they really didn't have any good ideas and attempts to control them with diet had not worked well.
 
After years of trying to cope, I had a sense that meditation might actually help and I was highly motivated to be faithful to twice daily practice. To my amazement and profound gratitude, my symptoms began to subside in about a week. After a couple of months my symptoms left completely NEVER to return.
 
That was about 44 years ago and I have been faithful to the technique. Let's see 44x365x2 .... how many times is that? Minus the dozen or so times I have missed?  During this time I have felt that I had stepped off the edge of my old life with each meditation ... stepped off the edge only to awaken to a new and more joyous me. Perhaps this is what some describe as the death and resurrection show.  Perhaps this is what it means to be born again.  Whatever it is called, it is a great addition to my lifestyle.

When talking to others about meditation, I often hear that they don't have time.  What I have found is that as I devote the time to meditate, my efficiency and effectiveness increases so that I actually have more time for activities I love to do.

To learn more about this excellent technique check out the Official Website for Transcendental Meditation
or watch this video that discusses what science knows about the benefits of Transcendental Meditation

As a wonderful alternative, you might listen to the audiobook version of Thich Nhat Hanh reading his book "The Art of Mindful Living".  I borrowed mine from our local library.  I urge you to get the audio version.  It is only about 2 hours long and listening instead of reading allows you to actually do the exercises as he speaks.  Alternately, you could google him and listen to some of his many offerings free of charge on YouTube.

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