Who was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi — and what is his role in TM?

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was regarded as a foremost authority on meditation—often referred to as "an Einstein in the field of consciousness." He is known for his practical, scientific approach and his lifelong endeavor to relieve human suffering and bring the benefits of effective meditation to people everywhere.

He did not fashion himself as a "guru" with personal followers, but served as a

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Do Transcendental Meditation mantras have a religious connotation?

I heard that some mantras have meaning and can be religious — is this true of TM mantras?

No, this is not the case with TM mantras. It’s true that in certain other meditation practices, mantras may be used as meaningful thoughts for the purpose of contemplation or devotion and may have religious significance. But the mantras used in TM practice are not associated with any meaning, nor are

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What if I meditate using a mantra that has a meaning?

Meditation practices using actual words or phrases for mantras may have a pleasing affect, allowing one to explore concepts or enjoy the feelings or ideas that the words or phrases might invoke, but such practices are not so conducive to going beyond mental activity to the more settled states of awareness. This is because they tend to keep the mind busy and engaged more on the surface — in the

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What is Transcendental Consciousness?

Transcendental ConsciousnessDavid Orme-Johnson, Ph.D.Many scholars have noted that experiences of Transcendental Consciousness are universal, found in all cultures, in both religious and secular settings, although their interpretation varies according to the cultural contexts.(1-8)  Typical reports of the period immediately prior to the Transcendental Consciousness experience by TM meditators is

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