Scientific research on Transcendental Meditation


by Fabrizio Coppola
Scientific research has shown that the most beneficial meditation technique is Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation (TM). The striking reduction of stress and anxiety caused by TM are 3 times greater than the effect caused by most meditation and relaxation techniques.

Transcendental Meditation has been taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi since 1958. The first articles about the beneficial effects of this technique were published around 1970 on important magazines and scientific journals such as Science (167, 1970), American Journal of Physiology (221, 1971) and Scientific American (226, 1972).

The basic research was conducted by two medical doctors from Harvard University, Herbert Benson and Robert Wallace. This research was made on dozens of American people who used to practice this technique regularly. These people were of any race, sex, age, job, and with different personal political or religious belief.

Later, a lot of research was made about this technique by several doctors and scientists, who wrote several articles on important scientific journals such as International Journal of Neuroscience, Psychosomatic Medicine, Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Journal of Clinical Psychology, and many more.

Dr. Benson never practiced this technique himself (Dr. Wallace did). Dr. Benson created his own relaxation technique, that is described in his book "The relaxation response" (HarperCollins, 1975, 2000), a best-seller that sold 5 millions of copies since 1975.

Dr. Benson claims that his technique achieves the same results as Maharishi's TM. However, the actual results achieved by TM are 3 times greater than those achieved by the relaxation response technique, as shown by further research (Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45, 1989; and Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 6, 1991).

Around 1995, Dr. Deepak Chopra created the primordial sound technique, that is very similar to Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation (TM) and can be considered as much as effective. Unfortunately Maharishi's TM and Chopra's technique are very expensive: the price of TM is prohibitive ($2500.00). Chopra's technique is expensive also (starting at $325).

Further on, a mystical atmosphere has been sorrounding the TM technique for years, and the Maharishi organization deals with several peculiar and weird projects that stun common people. This has prevented TM to be appreciated as it deserves. Transcendental Meditation is a simple, precious, effective technique that can help anybody to live better and to reduce or remove stress, anxiety and other disorders.

That's why former TM teachers have started teaching this precious technique for less. For example check the websites: tm-meditation.co.uk (TM Independent UK) and natural-stress-relief.com.