Vedic Meditation is a mantra-based technique in which you silently and effortlessly think a sound given to you by a teacher, usually for 20 minutes twice a day. It comes from the same Indian lineage as Transcendental Meditation, through Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and is normally taught in person over four consecutive days. Start with our complete guide.
1 guide
Vedic Meditation is a mantra-based technique in which you silently and effortlessly think a sound given to you by a teacher, usually for 20 minutes twice a day. It comes from the same Indian lineage as Transcendental Meditation, through Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and is normally taught in person over four consecutive days.
This hub is the home on Self Help Supermarket for Vedic Meditation. Our complete guide explains the method, the evidence and its limits. As we check them, videos, podcasts, courses, books and practitioner directories for Vedic Meditation are added to this page.
This hub is for general information and self-education. It is not a replacement for medical or psychological care.
New to Vedic Meditation? Our complete guide covers how it differs from TM, what happens on the four-day course, how to practise once you have your mantra, the evidence, the risks, what it costs and how to find a teacher.
Vedic Meditation is a mantra-based technique in which you silently and effortlessly think a sound given to you by a teacher, usually for 20 minutes twice a day.…
The best evidence is for blood pressure, and it is modest. The American Heart Association said TM "may be considered" to lower blood pressure, while rating other meditation techniques as having no proven benefit (Brook et al., 2013). Independent reviews suggest a fall of roughly 4 mmHg systolic, but warn that many trials were run by researchers tied to TM (Ooi et al., 2017).
You will find the full evidence, with sources, in the complete guide.
Read our complete guide first. It explains Vedic Meditation step by step and says plainly what the evidence does and does not show.
The technique is essentially the same: both come from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and use a personal mantra for 20 minutes twice a day. TM is a trademarked brand taught only by certified teachers of the Maharishi organisations at set fees. Vedic Meditation is taught by independent teachers, most trained by Thom Knoles.
It comes from Hindu scriptures and includes a short Sanskrit ceremony of gratitude, called a puja, when you learn. You aren't asked to adopt beliefs, worship or change your lifestyle, and people of all faiths and none practise it. A US court ruled in 1979 that the TM course was religious when taught in state schools.
Not in the traditional sense, because the mantra and the technique are passed on by a teacher with personal feedback. You can try related free practices, such as Benson's relaxation response or the 1 Giant Mind app, to see whether effortless mantra meditation suits you.
TM, the most studied form, appears to lower systolic blood pressure by about 4 mmHg on average. The American Heart Association says TM may be considered as an add-on. There is almost no direct research on Vedic Meditation, and it should never replace prescribed medication.
Most people experience nothing worse than occasional headaches, grogginess or emotional release, often from coming out of meditation too quickly. Occasionally, meditation can trigger anxiety, low mood or unusual experiences. People with psychosis, bipolar disorder or severe trauma should get medical advice first.
Ask who trained them and for how long, what the fee includes, what they will sell you afterwards and how they handle difficult experiences. Avoid anyone who claims meditation cures illness or pressures you to buy more. A free introductory talk is a good way to judge.
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