Course Outline

Transcendental Meditation is the heart of the Yoga system, and an important part of Ayurveda (the 'Science of Life'), the world's most ancient system of natural health care and personal development. It is taught in a thorough and beautifully structured course dunnq which participants gain the ability to practice the technique correctly and effortlessly on their own and are fully equipped to enjoy its benefits in the future. The course can be taught over four days, but for the convenience of participants is usually taught over three consecutive days, normally a weekend:

TYPICAL COURSE SCHEDULE (non-residential)

Sessions are spread over three days to allow time to gain the experience upon which full understanding can be built, to ensure maximum benefit for the rest of your life.

Residential Courses are the same format, but run from Wednesday to Friday. Advantages of learning in Residence:

* Extra meditation sessions
* Wonderful tranquil environment
* Extra discussions with your teacher
* 2 FREE 1 hour Yoga posture sessions (optional)

The technique is very simple but as a result very subtle and delicate. It therefore cannot be learned from a book or tape since the attention and guidance of a qualified instructor who has spent at least a year in full-time training under the supervision of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of transcendental meditation, is vital for correct practice.

The course is extremely interesting and enjoyable with most people on the first day at least experiencing a deeper level of relaxation that they have ever done before, and by the end of the course almost all are aware of some tangible benefits emerging (the occasional person who doesn't feel benefits immediately always notices quite soon). Although it provides a very rich experience and many deep insights, it requires no academic or other ability nor any prior belief.

Follow-up - "A Never-ending Course"

The profound personal growth and development that transcendental meditation sets in motion means that the rest of your life can be regarded as part of the course. For this reason, the Meditation Trust offers FREE support and guidance for the REST OF YOUR LIFE. Meetings for experienced meditators are held on teaching weekends and often in meditators houses inbetween. When a teacher is present, they provide deeper insights into meditation and the experiences that come with it. There are also highly beneficial and enjoyable weekend retreats and advanced courses.

THE FOUR SESSIONS OF THE COURSE:

Personal Instruction
In this session you learn on a one-to-one basis with your instructor. The session is individual because everyone has different requirements and questions and a different nervous system. Experiences vary and need careful attention and explanation from your instructor. After this one hour session, you know enough to go home and practice on your own, morning and evening. However, experiences at home will vary from those in the instruction session, bringing up questions and doubts in your mind. You therefore return with everyone else who learned on the first day for three group meetings.

Group Meeting 1: Verifying Correct Practice
This and the following meetings build up your understanding and your confidence by reference to the group's experiences in and out of meditation. (You don't have to speak if you don't want to!) You will learn how to recognise correct practice, and practical details such as how to begin and end meditation, when best to meditate, when you can do extra, and how to deal with noise or disturbances.

Meeting 2: Understanding the Mechanics of Meditation
This session is for most people a major break-through as you begin to understand the intimacy of the mind/body connection how accumulated stress and tension is released from the nervous system and the effect of this on mental experience. The role of thoughts in meditation begins to be understood, leading to enhancement of experience and satisfaction.

Meeting 3: Developing Higher States of Consciousness & The Spiritual Mechanics of Nature
Again with reference to our experiences, we examine the cumulative benefits of effortless yogic meditation in terms of the development of our full human potential ("enlightenment"). We begin to discover the wonderful truth of who we really are according to Yoga, and how Nature's invincible force of evolution will support our every thought and action and the effortless fulfilment of our deepest desires if we allow it to happen.