transcendental meditation.....

I keep hearing about transcendental meditation, but i don't know exactly what it is. could someone please explain it to me? Thank you.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendental_Meditation

 

It's just another technique in a long list of others. Don't pay $2,000 for a mantra, just meditate at home.

 

I heard it was a more advanced form of meditation. From what i hear its a totally different realm when you TM....is this true?

 

I doubt that. If it is what I think it is, then I've learned that by myself. No need to pay such outrageous prices.

 

is there a form of meditation thats like that?

 

If you mean is there something thats cooler and gives you more results without half the effort, then sorry, no there is not.
You have to work hard and earn your growth.

 

No, I'm not looking for something cooler and takes half the work. I'm actually fine with what I'm doing. its working for me and has brung me much peace in my life. I was just wondering if there was a form of meditation that actually brings you into another state of mind. I've heard all these rumors of almost psychedelic states induced by meditation, and i wanted to know if this was true. so please don't classify me with this lazy generation of kids i was born into. And I don't mean that in a rude way my friend. thank you for your help, but could you answer my new question?

 

Meditation is not about going from one state of mind into another. Meditation is the practice of silencing the mind and going beyond it - transcending the mind. Whether that is through the practice of TM (which has always been too commercial to ring true for me) or through any other school of spiritual instruction.
If you are seeking an altered state of mind or psychedelic experiences, then meditation is not for you. But if you want to drop the mind and its agitations, go beyond the limited thought-bound entity that you experience yourself as, and find the true infinite core of your being, the divine essence within, the one life that flows through all the universe, then meditation is the way.

 

I'm not looking for the psychedelic state, I was just wondering if it was true that certain forms of meditation can induce that state of mind. but thank you. The breathing meditation i use seems to be working fine with me.

 

The thing with any practice is to stick with it.

As for inducing states of mind - all sorts of things come up during meditation: highs lows, terrors, bliss, visions, mystic powers. These are distractions on the path of true self knowledge.

 

So far I've been able to reach a place where I am able to totally block out the world and for some reason I feel completely weightless. Like nothing exists but me and empty space with no gravity. I don't float around, i stay in once place, but it feels like I'm floating. is this normal?

p.s. It doesn't occur all the time, but every now and then.

 

I have practiced TM as taught my Maharishi since I was fifteen. That's now 27 years. I also am Buddhist and practice other forms of meditation and chanting.

I still feel very lucky that I learned TM, especially after studying tantra more. I feel I was extremely fortunate.

 

Like I said, mindtrip, during meditation, all sorts of experiences will come up. However, remember that the experiences come and go. Such meditation experiences are as impermanent as worldly experiences. True meditation will bring an inner peace that is permanent and unshakable. Meditation is to touch that essential indestructible core of being within you. Any other experience is only a experience. Always try to take your awareness from the experience to the experiencer.

 

ok, well thank you for the help

 

There is a Buddhist sadhana called, "Queen of Bliss." But it's very rare and hard to get.

 

This? http://www.khandro.net/dakini_queen.htm

and what are you suppose to do with it?

 

It's Buddhist. You are supposed to get it from a lama. then you are supposed to practice it as explained. Yes, that is it. It is the essence of Buddhist thought and practice but for those predisposed to the sensual path. One need not renounce anything. Therefore it is a hard teaching to obtain because most Buddhists are on the path of renunciation, so they will not understand how one can retain the things of this world and still not be of them. Thus it's kept secret. I just told you because, well, because it's there.

 

so do I just memorize and repeat whats written?

 

You have to have lineage. I am not giving you permission to practice it. I am merely telling you it exists. You should study a bit about it, as the first part starts with Buddhist refuge. Which is not something you just say. Or the whole sadhana will be something you just say. If you want it to work you will need to find a lama who teaches it. For that, you must search. These sadhanas are called tantras. they each have necessary permissions, from lineages. My advice is to do a wide ranging search for a lineage that you might like. Try maybe Namkhai Norbu. Pema Norbu. Dungse Rigdzen Dorge. Or check into Orgyen Dorge Den in California. These are places to start looking. This is a little different from TM. It is specifically a religion - Buddhism - and it is for trying to practice The Dharma. Which is to better serve others. This practice takes the tact that if you are enjoying bliss then you will not be so attached to yourself and you will have better success being unselfish. That alone is the essence of psychedelica I believe, as well.