Frequently Asked Questions
Answers by Colin Beckley, Director of the Meditation Trust
1) Do you have any connection with the Maharishi Foundation?
3) Is your transcendental meditation authentic?
4) How is it that you can charge so much less? Is it because you give a less thorough back-up?
5) Won’t I get more benefit if I learn in a smaller group?
7) What if it doesn’t work for me?
8) Will I have to give up things like alcohol, smoking or sex?
9) Will I have to sit cross-legged on the floor with a straight back?
10) Surely TM will conflict with my religion, won’t it?
1. Do you have any connection with the Maharishi Foundation?
NONE – Although, as our former colleagues, we still love and respect them (and continue as personal friends with some), our two organisations are entirely separate.
2. Why did you leave them?
Simply because of the prices that they started to charge for TM instruction. It was heartbreaking to have to tell someone on income support, or a student, that they had to pay the same high price as a millionaire, no concessions allowed.
3. Is your transcendental meditation authentic?
Most definitely yes. 100%! Our teachers were all trained by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the great revolutionary yoga teacher who revived Transcendental Meditation between 1958 and 2008. Having worked for his organisation as teachers for many years, we all left in response to the increase in teaching prices (see above).
We all teach just the same as we did when we worked directly for Maharishi. He structured the teaching of transcendental meditation in such a beautiful and effective way that we find it inconceivable that any trained teacher would want to change it. It works! (Our teachers were invited in 2008 to re-join the Maharishi’s foundation, but declined.)
For logistical reasons, however, we have adjusted some of the peripheral activities associated with the teaching: The Introductory Talk (or two), which you are required by the Maharishi Foundation to attend before instruction, we have put into a brochure which we include in our Information Pack. You can read this at your leisure at home and call us if you have any queries – a far more convenient way of being introduced to transcendental meditation!
Also, the tradition has been to ask prospective students to bring fruit, flowers and a new, white handkerchief for use in their instruction. This is a very old and beautiful tradition, but this part of it is entirely symbolic. Instead, most of our teachers supply these items themselves and some are given to you at the end of teaching as a gift symbolising the benefits you will receive from your meditation. The same symbolism, but more pleasant and convenient for you!
4. How is it that you can charge so much less? Is it because you give a less thorough backup?
On the contrary, the Trust’s commitment to students is for life, free of charge. That’s more than other organisations. We are able to charge less because we teach more people and because we don’t have a hierarchy of leaders or projects abroad to support. All income supports teaching in the country of origin.
5. Won’t I get more benefit if I learn in a smaller group?
No. If anything it will be less. All transcendental meditation instruction is personal, on a one-to-one basis. In the group meetings that follow over the next two or three days, the larger the group the broader and more lively your understanding will be of the process of meditation and the various experiences that can come from it.
6. From your list of the benefits of TM, it seems you’re saying that it is a panacea for all the world’s ills. Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?
Meditation doesn’t cure anything. Any doctor or healer will admit the same about their approach. It’s the power of Nature that heals. And that power is unlimited in its potential. The power of any approach is in its ability to allow you to connect with the deeper, more powerful levels of Nature. And TM is the purest form of Yoga, which means integration of life – just that connection with the power deep within you.
7. What if it doesn’t work for me?
TM doesn’t work! (See question 6). The process that Yoga (TM) stimulates is a natural process that will always work for everyone. Some will notice it working straight away, sometimes spectacularly. Others of us have to wait longer. It’s still working, but taking longer to bring results to our conscious awareness. Anytime someone feels it’s not working, they can rely on help from their teacher.
8. Will I have to give up things like alcohol, smoking and sex?
No. You are not asked to give up anything. It’s true that some organisations teaching meditation do ask you to give up these things. But that is a misunderstanding. Good habits are a result of meditation, not a requirement for learning! And sex is certainly not a barrier to meditation. Sex addiction or obsession will tend to fade (like other addictions) and enjoyment will increase as a result of TM. But it is certainly not necessary to give up sex to reach ‘enlightenment’! It might be someone’s choice to do that but it is certainly not a requirement. Some of the great teachers of the Yoga tradition have been ‘householders’ with families.
9. Will I have to sit cross-legged on the floor with a straight back?
Absolutely not. Again, good posture is a result of meditation. During your course you will sit on a chair, unless you prefer not to. And we strongly advise against making any sudden changes to how you sit.
10. Surely TM will conflict with my religion. Won’t it?
It will not. People of all religions have learned transcendental meditation (TM). In fact, many TM teachers are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist etc. Priests, Monks, Nuns and even a few Bishops have learned transcendental meditation and the most common comment is that it has enriched their faith. TM is not a religion but Yoga (spiritual knowledge). There is a distinct difference, and Yoga pre-dates religion by thousands of years. For a full understanding of this question, and especially if you have friends or family members who think TM is a threat, we have copies of a wonderful book written by a Catholic Priest, Fr Adrian Smith, which gives a Christian understanding of TM. It’s called 'A Key to the Kingdom of Heaven' (£1) He’s also written a pamphlet entitled “Questions Christians ask about transcendental meditation” (30p). Both are available if you contact our office.
If you wish to discuss any of the above answers, or have another question you wish to ask, please feel free to email or call our office on 01843 841010. Colin will be pleased to answer your questions.