Frequently Asked Questions There are different types of meditation. Mantra meditation techniques have proven very effective. Examples of specific mantra meditation techniques are: Transcendental Meditation® or TM®, Chopra's Primordial Sound® meditation, and Natural Stress Relief© meditation. These three techniques are somewhat different from one another, but all three are mantra meditation techniques with no breath control and their purpose is a unique state of the mind, consciously transcending all thoughts, which allows the mind and the nervous system to deeply rest and remove stress. They differ much from other types of meditation. In the NSR technique, a single "syllable" for everybody is given, instead of a personal "mantra". Our own syllable has never been used in TM, but it comes from yoga and tantra tradition as well as TM mantras. By the way, no trademark problems can exist, due to several reasons. Our product is sold by our non-profit organization as a Manual + Audio under the term "Natural Stress Relief technique", while "Transcendental Meditation" is a Service Mark registered in the USA in the class 41 (education courses). Other remarkable differences between NSR and TM are the duration of the sessions and the way of learning. Our syllable has been accurately chosen. Please read the several testimonials about the good results that this technique achieves. In our opinion, the use of "personal" syllables in TM has not increased its effectiveness. On the other hand, the TM organization says that TM is unique and TM effect can't be achieved in any other way. Of course, you compare, you decide. Chopra's technique is also similar to TM, but a long Sanskrit phrase is used instead of a single syllable. Our research has shown that a phrase is not better than a syllable. We don't know. Probably the TM organization considers TM very, very beneficial and precious (and it is), but they forget that most people cannot afford such expense. Many TM teachers are disappointed for this absurd price, that is imposed by the International TM Organization. See for example TM Independent UK. Many TM teachers are also disappointed for the expensive course of "recertification" they must attend ($16,000 + room and board)! This was a new, unexpected, absurd decision of the TM organization (Spring 2005). However, Maharishi himself said: "30 or 40 thousand teachers of TM I have trained, and many of them have gone on their own, and they may not call it Maharishi's TM, but they are teaching it in some different name here and there... doesn't matter, as long as the man is getting something useful to make his life better, we are satisfied" (Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Press Conference, May 14, 2003). In the original 1958 TM, a single syllable (mantra) was used, and there were not "personal" mantras, that were introduced in 1969. The results seem to be the same in both cases (read testimonials on the NSR website), but TM teachers (those who have not abandoned the TM organization) will tell you that personal mantras are necessary to make TM unique, so that TM results can't be achieved in any other way. You compare, you decide. Here is what TM teachers will tell you: 1) different, personal mantras are indispensable for an effective meditation; 2) no technique is as effective as TM; 3) no valid technique can be learned through a manual; 4) you must spend $2500.00 if you want to learn an effective meditation (TM). In other words, they acknowledge that the NSR technique is not TM, and NSR is not concerned with trademark or copyright problems. Some scientific research on NSR (that is very small if compared to that on TM) has shown that the remarkable effects of NSR seem to be the same as TM. Other questions about mantra meditation Transcendental Meditation: homepage Transcendental Meditation: scientific research Transcendental Meditation: short articles © 2003-2013 Istituto Scientia, Italy - scientia@ipotesi.net - Privacy Policy Transcendental Meditation - Transendental Meditation - TM Meditation Short articles on TM - Trascendental Meditation FAQ - Links Scientific research - TM teachers - Trademark |