Meditation is a powerful tool to enhance your life and well-being, but do you know the difference between regular meditation and transcendental meditation?
Learn how TM can help you to clear negative energy, calm the mind and bring you back into the present moment. This type of meditation is effortless and natural.
What is Transcendental Meditation?
There are many forms of meditation, and meditation techniques from yoga to mindfulness meditation, guided meditations, crystal meditation, chanting meditations and beyond.
Transcendental meditation is a form of Silent meditation where you focus on a sound or mantra silently in your mind.
To understand the whole process, check out our post on how to practice transcendental meditation.
Preparing the ambient with your favourite aromas is a beautiful way to get ready for your mediation.
Essential oils are amazing for this purpose, such as lavender and chamomile. Click here https://nygex.uk/p/ultrasonic-air-humidifier-essential-oil-aroma-diffuser for a gorgeous essential oils diffuser that will help you on your journey to transcendental meditation.
The practice was promoted in the 1950s by Indian Guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and brought to the West in the 1960s, where is has been popular ever since.
Saying that, the practice of silent meditation or transcendental meditation is not new. It dates back thousands and thousands of years before being given a name.
This technique is effortless, natural and simple. It is is about being in the now. It is about the ability to be fully present without distraction and gently clearing the thoughts to bring the attention back to the present moment, working towards inner peace.
Silent mediation is a great way to relax and de-stress. It is a very powerful tool to help you release negative emotions and learn how to channel positive energy as you clear your mind of thoughts.
What is Different About Transcendental Mantras?
Mantras for silent meditation are usually not more than two words. Unlike affirmations or yoga mantras, often the mantras chosen for transcendental medittion should be meaningless.
As simple and meaningless selection of words as possible so that even the mantra does not provide distraction.
You can also use meaningless sounds or vibrations, or a primordial hum (Om) if you prefer these to a word mantra.
The aim is to settle the mind into a state of peaceful being.
“The practice (of Transcendental Meditation) involves thinking of a word, a word devoid of meaning.
Meaning is a static thing. The sound changes in its pitch—it can be loud sound, or low sound. The meaning is the same at every pitch. If the mind is on the meaning, there is no chance of refining the meaning. If the mind is not on the meaning, there is a chance of refining the sound, there is a chance of experiencing the sound in its finer values till the finest could be transcended and the awareness could reach that inner wakefulness devoid of any perception. This will be Transcendental Consciousness….
This unbounded awareness where the perception is no longer within boundaries—it is unbounded. This is a silent state of the mind, and it is so fulfilling that the physiology having tasted this kind of quietness of activity it cherishes that. And because it is cherishing to the whole physiology, to the whole experience, the physiology tends to maintain that state naturally even when there are activities. So by nature that state is experienced, and by nature, through practice, it becomes stabilized in the field of activity….
The whole thing is very simple. It is an absolutely natural process.”
– Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Watch this explanation on Youtube
List of Transcendental Meditation Mantras
This Transcendental Meditation mantra list is designed to help you to easily focus and relax at the same time.
If you have ever wanted to meditate without any effort, this is the best list of Transcendental Meditation mantras to start you off with.
Note – You will find people arguing that you can’t just pick a mantra and you have to have it assigned by a certified teacher, but not everyone can afford those prices and this meditation practice is for everyone.
Transcendental Meditation Mantra Sounds by Age
Typically, TM Mantras are assigned by a certified TM teacher. However, it is known that some specific sounds are assigned according to age, gender and so on.
| AGE | MANTRA |
| 0-11 | eng |
| 12-13 em | em |
| 14-15 enga | enga |
| 16-17 ema | ema |
| 18-19 ieng | ieng |
| 20-21 iem | iem |
| 22-23 ienga | ienga |
| 24-25 iema | iema |
| 26-29 | shirim |
| 30-34 | shiring |
| 35-39 | kirim |
| 40-44 | kiring |
| 45-49 | hirim |
| 50-54 hiring | hiring |
| 55-54 | hiring |
| 55-59 | sham |
| 60 | shama |
Transcendental Mantras for Males
- Ram
- Ing
- Aing
- Shiring
- Shiam
Transcendental Mantras for Females
- Shiram
- Im
- Aim
- Shirim
- Shiama
This set of words are Sanskrit words, which have been assigned by teachers of the tm movement according to age and gender of the tm student.
Popular Mantras for Transcendental Meditation
You can use any of these different mantras for your mantra meditation practice if they feel comfortable for you
Aham Prema (I am divine love)
Om Namah Shivaya (Salutations to the auspicious one)
Sat Nam (I am truth. Used in Kundalini Yoga)
Aum, Om, Ong and Haum are all primordial vibrations, linking to the creator.
Non Verbal Sounds to Use for Transcendental Meditation
- Flowing river
- Sea
- Waterfall
- Birds Chirping,
- Soothing music with no words
- Vibrations
- White noise
- Meditation sound bath bowl
How to Use Transcendental Meditation Mantras
The meditation session involves simple mental repetition of your specific mantra.
Choose a quiet place for your tm practice.
Close your eyes. Wait for about 30 seconds, and then think your mantra over and over silently in your mind. Around 20 minutes is a good amount of time to spend on this process.
When you’re ready to stop the meditation, slow down the repetition and come to a stop and wait about two minutes after that to open your eyes.
There is no specific way that you must sit for transcendental meditation. Sit in any comfortable position with your eyes closed. Don’t worry about folding your legs in any particular way, or holding a specific position.
It is a natural process, and designed to be an effortless technique that will bring you deep rest.
About Transcendental Meditation Mantras
Here are a few more questions you may have about the use of mantras in silent meditation. You can learn more from a certified teacher, if you want to take your tm practice further.
What does Transcendental Meditation do to the Brain?
This practice brings the brain into a state of restful alert.
Scientific research has shown that this meditation practice is associated with higher metabolic activity in the frontal and parietal parts of the brain and decreased metabolic activity in the thalamus.
This means brain arousal becomes regulated and hyperactivity is reduced, calming the nervous system while staying alert.
Benefits of Transcendental Meditation
Regular practice of transcendental meditation can offer better health in both physical health and emotional mental health benefits.
Some people even report significant reductions in chronic pain, as well as lower blood pressure, which reduces risk of cardiovascular disease.
Improved focus and ability to be present in the moment can also lead to improved cognitive function and greater happiness.
read more on the benefits of transcendental meditation here.
Is there an app for transcendental meditation?
There is a TM community app, on the official TM website which is currently only for those who have done the official courses.
Is transcendental meditation Buddhist? Or Hindu?
Transcendental meditation can be a religious or a non religious practice. The practice was created by Maharishi who said this message applies to people of all faiths. It’s a universal principal and a universal practice, no matter what religion you belong to. The TM technique can be used by people on any spiritual path.
It has also been known as Vedic meditation or deep meditation
Why is it called Transcendental Meditation?
The name was coined by the leader of the Maharishi foundation, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and this title aims to separate this meditation practice from Hinduism and emphasise that this practice is for everyone.
Achieving a state of transcendence refers to freeing the mind from the constraints of everyday life, and the clutter of daily worries, into a state of bliss.
We hope this list of tm mantras helped, and gave a little more insight on the transcendental meditation technique. Maybe you would like to try this for your regular meditation practice.
Please share this post with your friends, and on social media.
Anna is a Wales-based writer and graduate from SOAS University of London.
As the voice behind On Your Journey, she empowers women to embrace holistic well-being and spiritual growth through her expert insights into wellness and symbolism.
When she isn't writing thought-provoking articles, you'll find her busy crafting and raising her 4 children.
Thank you for providing this information! I would like to start meditating again but I am not in a position to purchase a course at this time. This is extremely helpful.