How do I practice Transcendental Meditation and what is a Mantra?

Bob Roth explains how do I practice Transcendental Meditation and what is a Mantra?

Bob Roth: In Transcendental Meditation we learn a mantra or a sound as a vehicle, to serve as a vehicle to allow the attention of the mind to take this inward direction. The mantra is defined as just a sound that is known to be positive, life supporting and has no particular meaning. So we use this mantra as a vehicle to experience quieter levels of thought and then to transcend thought, to experience the source of thought, pure consciousness, that unbounded level of the mind, that source of creativity of energy and intelligence within. When we learn Transcendental Meditation we learn from a teacher of Transcendental Meditation a particular sound (mantra) and then how to use it properly.

[akanda]

I have been practising the Transcendental Meditation-technique since I was 13 and in all these 35 years I never missed a meditation - that tells the whole story: if a young kid could like to practice a meditation technique regularly it shows, that the technique works: it makes Your mind clear, creative and enjoyable, keeps Your body health and effective, and even reflects on Your social network... . TM simply is wonderful because its so easy and at the same time so practical :-)

[SevenRoses]

For Buddhists, mantras have meaning and there are many mantras. What distinguishes one from another is one's intention during meditation. I sometimes use meditation and mantra like one might use prayer. I use it sometimes to "take a break" from a busy and hectic life and to "just be" or rest and "reset" my mental state. Sometimes I use it to "clear out thoughts" and allow a stronger communication with "source", or what many call God, to gain insight, perspective, and answers to life's problems.

[meditationchannel]

@GixxxerKim It matters because sound has an effect, and the mantras used in TM are sounds known to have positive and harmonizing effects, especially on subtle levels of the mind. Also, not only is it important to get the right mantra; learning how to use it properly is equally important. If you'd like to learn more about the practice, you could attend a free introductory talk and get all your questions answered in person by a certified TM teacher.

[LawsonEnglish]

According to legend, the meaning of a mantra is inherent in its sound. Someone who is fully enlightened spontaneously intuits the meaning. However, until one is fully enlightened, attempting to "understand" the meaning of the mantra actually disrupts the process of becoming enlightened, and is thus, counter-productive.

[Spillers]

what is the difference between Transcendental Meditation and other forms of meditation?

[mikkeljs]

I have practiced meditation for 6 years pendanticly every day from I woke up untill I went to sleep. I did this since my work as a musician simply demanded it, but I never followed any techniques. As a musician, I can recognize the focus on a particular simple sound very easily of course, but as I see it, thats more of a secondary thing.

For me meditation has become something automatic, so Im not sure what the technique is.

[meditationchannel]

@angelwhite There are many forms of meditation, with many goals. Other practices often involve some concentration or control of the mind and others involve contemplation. These practices keep the mind active in some way on the surface thinking level. TM allows the mind to simply, naturally and effortlessly transcend thinking and to experience a deep state of restfully alert consciousness. Also watch "Mantra and Transcendental Meditation explained by Maharishi" /watch?v=kRSvW9Ml9DQ

[angelwhite]

Why is focusing on a mantra (sorry if "focus" is not the right word, but the only verb you gave was "use", which is too vague to be actionable) a more effective meditation than other types like guided meditation?

[ZestonN]

So the goal of TM is finding out "What do you think when you're not thinking"?

[LawsonEnglish]

"Use" is actually TOO concrete a term to use, but languages are limited.

[topbluffa]

Mantras do traditionally have meaning and that said meaning is supposed to be reflected upon, just not in this "TM"

[LawsonEnglish]

"Use" is a very deliberately chosen word, and even that is probably too specific.