Advanced Courses for TM Meditators
Whilst retreats are an advanced course in themselves, with their heightening of awareness on both the experiential and intellectual levels, there are further steps you can take which will further speed up your progress. They are not necessary - you can continue with your original mantra and practice and gain enormous benefit - but they will bring results more quickly.
ADVANCED TECHNIQUES
These are not really a "course" but a simple repetition of your transcendental meditation instruction in which an addition is made to your mantra (not a change of your original mantra). The effect tends to be clearer and more extended periods of transcending (silence) which enhance and enrich meditation, speeding up the resulting growth and progress.
Advanced techniques are taught on weekend retreats at Oxon Hoath by Trust director Colin Beckley, and may only be taken after two years of meditation, or two years since the last one.
Cost £50.
NOTE RE ADVANCED TECHNIQUES AND SIDDHIS:
DISCLAIMER: It should be noted that in 2008, shortly after Maharishi's passing, his organisation has changed the type of advanced technique they offer to a quite different process.
We prefer to keep to the techniques that have served us well for decades.
THE SIDDHI COURSE
Cost as at 2010 £400 + accommodation £950 to £1250 (according to room) plus single supplement £250.
This price may be subject to inflation.
The course is in three phases (all residential - open to meditators from March 2013):
next course 2013
30 MAY – 2 JUNE - learning the first set of preparatory Sutras (3 x 2 ½ hr sessions)
19-21 JULY - learning the second set of prep. Sutras (3x2 ½ hr sessions)
30 SEPT – 9 OCT - The beautiful climax of the course.
The Siddhi Programme
The Siddhi Programme is a natural extension of your Meditation. With regular practice of transcendental meditation you have become familiar with the process of transcending ("yoga") going from the surface thinking level to experience finer levels of thought, and transcending that finest level of thought to arrive at the source of thought, your own Being, pure consciousness, (silence). This is the level of all possibilities, perfection, the source of intelligence, energy and creativity, where Nature, our own Being, can do anything, be anything, with least effort and spontaneous fulfilment as it organises all activity and evolution in the Universe.
The next phase is that these qualities of pure consciousness begin to be experienced in activity. The Siddhi programme, by applying the wisdom of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, trains the mind to project thought from the silent level, accelerating the process by which the mind expresses its infinite potential. Thought becomes more effective, completely life-supporting, and scientific research has shown improvements in creativity, IQ, reaction time, intelligence, perceptual ability, behavioural flexibility and reversal of ageing. EEG studies show that these co-relate with an increase of coherence in brain functioning; the activity of the brain becomes more orderly.
This is most obvious in the Lightness Technique, one of the Siddhi techniques, when coherence reaches a peak, and there is maximum integration between inner intelligence and its material expression, between mind and body. Therefore the intention is fulfilled spontaneously and the body lifts off the ground. Subjectively one experiences exhilaration, lightness and bliss. ("Flying" is actually something of a misnomer currently, as until collective consciousness is purer, the experience is more "hopping" than flying. But it's a great start!)
The practical results start immediately but subtly, even before the body has left the ground (which can often take some months before it starts). Life becomes easier, happier and more fulfilling, at a faster rate. The ability to fulfil one's desires is a particular aspect of this. Furthermore, group Siddhi practice is even more powerful in its sociological effects than TM alone - research has repeatedly shown its ability to stop wars and reduce crime.
If you are considering applying for the Siddhi course, you should first think about adding yoga postures or stretching (10 minutes) and pranayama breathing (2-5 minutes) to your twice-daily programme of meditation. This is recommended anyway for everyone to speed up progress and will take your total time up to 45 minutes (inc 10 min rest). The Siddhi programme will add 20 mins of extra techniques and 15 minutes of extra rest, making 1 hour 20 in total for a full programme. Of course, you don't have to do the full programme, but if you do you will get the maximum benefit.
Although films and photos always show people in 'lotus' position flying, this is because they choose the most elegant-looking professional meditators for the photos. You should not be concerned about performing contortions, and weight or flexibility are not factors. Most people 'fly' with legs crossed. I know one who does it standing up and one who does it in a wheelchair!