Transcendental Meditation

[SaintOfMe]

I just finished watching a recorded version of Religion and Ethics News Weekly and they had a very interesting segment about transcendental meditation. Apparently it is extremely popular in Fairfield, Iowa, to the point where residents categorize themselves according to whether or not they meditate. There also seems to be controversy over whether TM is compatible with Christianity.

I never thought meditation alone was incompatible with Christianity, even when I was a Christian, but I wanted to see if anyone here knew about TM and could give information and opinions about it. Does it carry specific religious implications? Does anyone here practice TM or know someone who does? I'd really love to learn what it's really about.

Thanks!

SaintOfMe

 

[Chrysalis Kat]

I just finished watching a recorded version of Religion and Ethics News Weekly and they had a very interesting segment about transcendental meditation. Apparently it is extremely popular in Fairfield, Iowa, to the point where residents categorize themselves according to whether or not they meditate. There also seems to be controversy over whether TM is compatible with Christianity.

I never thought meditation alone was incompatible with Christianity, even when I was a Christian, but I wanted to see if anyone here knew about TM and could give information and opinions about it. Does it carry specific religious implications? Does anyone here practice TM or know someone who does? I'd really love to learn what it's really about.

Thanks!

SaintOfMe

TM was very popular back the days of Beatles and it has made a bit of come back in some parts recently.
I don't find meditation incompatible with Christianity at all and neither does my church. However, TM specifically(not all meditation practices) has been targeted by several churches and they've made statements condeming the practice of it on the grounds it's presuppositions are those of Hinduism and they oppose any blending of Eastern and Western philosophies. These churches don't view it as a relaxation activity, but a religious practice. The Maharishi's discussions of ethics and of God as something other than a personal God is enough make TM rejected outright by organized Christian religious organizations. You'll find plenty of Pros an Cons floating around and you'll just have to decide if it's right for you.
www.linklight.com/transcendentalmeditation/
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/011/10.78.html
http://www.ewtn.com/library/NEWAGE/SINMAHAR.TXT
http://www.ag.org/top/beliefs/position_papers/4173_transcendental.cfm

 

[sandman]

I was a 70s TM person (still can’t sit in the lotus position) When I got into the Word I put it away for the following reasons.

The concept of meditation is a good thing but the Word says we should meditate upon His Word.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Psalms 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

More below

All that TM claims of its benefits can be attained through God only with God they are innumerable and much more rewarding.

The levels of consciousness, I believe there were seven in number, the final one being god conciseness, did not seem to be taking me in the direction of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Along with that I will add that there is a basic crossroads between TM and God, hard to explain but you will be going one direction or the other.

The inanition ceremony seemed somewhat idolatrous. It may not have been but just seemed that way with the bringing of fruit to the alter of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

In conclusion I determined that I would much rather spend my time meditating and growing in Gods word and giving acknowledgement to the one who called me to be his son, rather then to give any allegiances or time to something of this world.



Psalms 119:

:148Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

:78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

:23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

Psalms 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 

[Mae Band]

these guys are a bunch of freaks! I live about 30 min away from fairfield and its sad to see what has happened to this community since mr. Maharishi or however you spell his name moved the university there. I highly suggest you all pray for these people as they need to turn to christ.

 

[Chrysalis Kat]

these guys are a bunch of freaks! I live about 30 min away from fairfield and its sad to see what has happened to this community since mr. Maharishi or however you spell his name moved the university there. I highly suggest you all pray for these people as they need to turn to christ.

What has happened to your community?

 

[SaintOfMe]

Ah, this is interesting. I was reading Carl Sagan's Demon-Haunted World and he brings up TM on page 16. Talk about concidences, eh? Anyway, the program I watched today simply presented it as meditation, but Sagan confirmed my suspicion that it probably consisted of a bit more than that:

The worldwide TM organization has an estimated valuation of $3 billion. For a fee they promise through meditation to be able to walk you through walls, to make you invisible, to enable you to fly. By thinking in unison they have, they say, diminished the crime rate in Washington, D.C. and caused the collapse of the Soviet Union, among other secular miracles... TM sells folk medicine, runs trading companies, medical clinics and "research" universities, and has unsuccessfully entered politics.

I knew there was something weird about those guys.