Transcendental Meditation

Lesson 1
The word "science" comes from the root word "to know." Essentially, science is knowledge; systematic knowledge is what we call science. Therefore, a science of Being means having a systematic understanding of existence—a structured way to grasp the very nature of reality and life itself.
For centuries, this field of absolute existence was described using the language of mysticism. However, in our modern scientific era, there's a certain skepticism toward anything wrapped in mystical terms. Because of this, the study of Being—the absolute field of the universe—hasn't yet been integrated into any mainstream branch of science.
A systematic method has been developed that allows anyone to directly experience the pure state of Being. This is achieved by consciously experiencing the finer layers of thought (through the repetition of a mantra), eventually reaching the most subtle level of thought, and finally arriving at the very source of thought itself. At that point, the conscious spirit reaches the pure state of Being.
So, what exactly is Being?
Beneath the finest layer of everything in the relative field lies an abstract, absolute field of pure Being that is unmanifest and transcendental. It isn't matter, nor is it energy. It is pure Being—a state of pure existence. This state of pure existence serves as the background for everything that exists. Everything is an expression of that pure existence, or absolute Being, which is an essential component of all relative life. One eternal, unmanifest, absolute Being expresses itself through the countless forms of life and existence found in the world.
How can we distinguish existence from things that exist?
Existence is abstract; that which exists is concrete.
You could say that existence is life itself, whereas the things that exist are merely eternally changing phases of the unchanging fact of existence. Existence is the abstract foundation upon which the concrete structure of life is built. This includes all aspects of the individual: the body, the spirit, thought, speech, action, behavior, perception, and how we influence our environment, as well as all forms of cosmic existence.
BEING: THE FOUNDATION OF LIFE
We know our lives begin with breathing and thinking, and we will see later how the unmanifest, transcendental Being first manifests itself through breath and thought. Our actions depend on our thoughts. Before we do anything, we have to think. Yet, we rarely stop to ask what our thoughts actually depend on. In order to think, we must, at the very least, exist. Being is the foundation of all living.

BEING, THE EQUILIBRIUM OF COSMIC LAW
Law implies a set of operating principles. Cosmic law refers to the governing principles of cosmic life—the fundamental rules directing the purpose of all existence and evolution. It represents the operational logic of a cosmic creative intelligence that continuously builds, sustains, and deconstructs the universe.
What we observe within the cosmos is the progression of life. Things emerge, grow, reach maturity, and eventually begin to decline. This decay isn't an end, but rather a necessary phase for reshaping and renewal. Change serves as the canvas upon which creation occurs; this constant shifting of life forms defines the state of the universe and fuels its ongoing expansion.
Alongside change, there is stability. Life works to sustain itself even as it evolves. You can think of maintenance as the aspect of permanence, while development is the aspect of transformation.
To truly grasp this universal law, we have to look at every facet of the cosmos: the emergence of life and matter, their sustenance, their growth, and their ultimate dissolution.
PRANA AND BEING
Prana is essentially Being taking shape. It is the impulse of the unmanifest seeking to become manifest—the driving force behind abstract existence. Being itself is absolute existence in its unmanifested essence. Its inherent tendency to vibrate and reveal itself is what we call Prana. As Being vibrates, Prana vibrates, and the physical world begins to take form. By adopting a subjective nature, Being becomes Spirit; by adopting an objective nature, it becomes Matter.
SPIRIT AND BEING
Think of Spirit as a wave moving across the ocean of Being. Just as a sea stirred by the wind rises into waves, the unmanifest, absolute Being—driven by its own nature, Prana—emerges as Spirit.
Karma acts as the wind, the force that generates the spiritual waves upon the ocean of unmanifest Being. In other words, Spirit is Prana shaped by the influence of Karma. When you examine Karma, you see that without Spirit (the actor), no action or Karma can exist. This highlights a deep interdependence: it’s hard to say whether Spirit creates Karma or if Karma gives rise to Spirit.
The answer to the riddle is that they are a cycle: Spirit is born from Karma and produces Karma, just as Karma is born from Spirit and produces Spirit. It is much like how a seed produces a tree, and that tree, in turn, produces seeds.

Lesson 3
Think of it this way: without the vital force known as prana, karma just sits there, dormant. When you combine that dormant karma with prana, you get the spark that ignites the soul. Essentially, the soul is a blend of prana and karma, linked to the Unmanifested Being through prana. You could say prana is the first step in the cosmic dance of creation, while the soul is the second.
Prana is the primary expression of cosmic intelligence. By reflecting through karma, prana gains its own unique identity, manifesting as an individual soul. This shows us that our individual soul is really just a limited reflection of the infinite cosmic spirit—that pure, boundless intelligence. Just as prana is the outward expression of the eternal ocean of the Unmanifested Being, the soul is the reflection of cosmic intelligence acting upon karma. This leads us to a pretty profound conclusion: there was a world before this one. There was a day before today and a night before tonight. The cycle of creation and decay is an eternal loop within the infinity of Being.
In the natural flow of things, a soul comes into existence because a previous soul created certain karma. That lingering karmic influence acts as the foundation for the current soul.
We can basically pinpoint two core realities at the root of existence. First, there’s the eternal reality of Absolute Being. Second, there’s the reality of karma, which, even though it exists within the constantly shifting landscape of relative existence, also possesses an eternal quality through the endless cycle of action, experience, and impression. The "impression" left by an experience within the actor's soul is the most subtle influence of karma.
Being is the infinite, eternal ocean of absolute life. Because it is transcendental in nature, it doesn't have specific characteristics or traits. Sure, we experience it, but that experience happens within its own field of transcendental existence—a realm of pure light. In that space, the soul transcends all relative experiences and merges with Being. Once it reaches that state, it ceases to be a conscious, separate soul. This state of absolute existence, devoid of all attributes, is completely beyond the reach of our imagination or any intellectual concepts or logic.
The human soul naturally tries to grasp this primal reality, reaching toward the shores of the infinite ocean of absolute wisdom. In its quest to touch the untouchable and understand the transcendental, it moves toward understanding the finer layers of existence, hoping that if it can just grasp the subtlest levels, it might finally understand the true nature of the highest, original source.
KARMA OR BEING
Being is absolute existence, whereas karma is the mechanism that keeps the cycle of creation, growth, and decay spinning. It’s clear, then, that the essential nature of karma is fundamentally different from the essence of Being, which simply *is*. No amount of karma can ever actually reach the state of Being. Because of how karma operates, the entire world is caught in a perpetual loop of birth and death, creation and dissolution. Since karma is the opposite of Being, any action that breaks the cycle of karma will lead directly to the state of Being.
As we’ve discussed, the force of karma creates, sustains, and eventually dismantles the life of both individuals and the universe. That’s why every person and every living thing is subject to its power. Karma maintains life within the relative realm, which is exactly why humans remain separated from the territory of pure Being.
The consciousness of transcendental bliss leaves an immediate imprint on the nature of the soul. When returning to the relative field—where time, space, and cause-and-effect keep everything tightly constrained—the soul begins to retain a sense of that limitless state. Through consistent practice, it draws closer and closer to the transcendental.
Practicing Transcendental Meditation regularly causes such a powerful infusion of Being into the soul that, even while navigating the daily grind of the relative world, the soul begins to live out the nature of eternal Being. For someone caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this has incredible practical value.

I was wondering if anyone might be willing to share their personal experiences or any insights they've gathered regarding Transcendental Meditation, since it seems to be a fairly well-known practice yet I haven't seen anyone on this forum discuss it directly quite yet.

thanks.

It's pretty good for relaxing both the mind and the body, I guess.

It’s not a bad technique, I guess, but it isn't quite the same thing as having actual "faith."

Kyle Nelson2 said:It’s not a bad technique, I guess, but it isn't quite the same thing as having actual "faith."

And that's exactly why I suggest it.
Just trust your own gut. 🙂

I tried it once before and it was actually pretty great; I guess it really helped boost my focus for the rest of the day.

Kyle Nelson2 said:It’s not a bad technique, I guess, but it isn't quite the same thing as having actual "faith."

From what I understand, for a Christian, it’s mostly just a technique, whereas for Buddhists or followers of other Eastern religions, it seems to be both a practice and a matter of faith.

Chris Collins2 said:From what I understand, for a Christian, it’s mostly just a technique, whereas for Buddhists or followers of other Eastern religions, it seems to be both a practice and a matter of faith.

Faith in what, exactly?

Look, if you're out there bashing things, then it isn't actually faith...
And another thing, I guess some people just have this weird tendency to turn it into a total cult

Transcendental Meditation

I've been looking into TM too. Did a little digging online and stumbled upon this. It pretty much covers everything, so take a look

jademarlin26 said:Faith in what, exactly?

Well, if you look at faith in Buddha, it's different. As Christians, we talk to God through prayer, whereas Buddhists might use prayer, meditation, or other practices. I guess it just varies.

Chris Collins2 said:Well, if you look at faith in Buddha, it's different. As Christians, we talk to God through prayer, whereas Buddhists might use prayer, meditation, or other practices. I guess it just varies.

TM and Buddhism... 🤣 🤣 🤣
I honestly have no idea where you guys are pulling these claims from. 😕

casualtiger2 said:TM and Buddhism... 🤣 🤣 🤣
I honestly have no idea where you guys are pulling these claims from. 😕

Maybe I'm just young and still learning, but that's how they teach it in my religious studies class at school.

Chris Collins2 said:Well, if you look at faith in Buddha, it's different. As Christians, we talk to God through prayer, whereas Buddhists might use prayer, meditation, or other practices. I guess it just varies.

And what "other practices" might those be? Exactly what kind of nonsense are you filling your head with?

jademarlin26 said:And what "other practices" might those be? Exactly what kind of nonsense are you filling your head with?

I guess there's actually quite a bit they try to feed me.
But hey, you're probably right—I might have misunderstood. At the end of the day, it really is just a technique.

mistyjackal14 said:I was wondering if anyone might be willing to share their personal experiences or any insights they've gathered regarding Transcendental Meditation, since it seems to be a fairly well-known practice yet I haven't seen anyone on this forum discuss it directly quite yet.

thanks.

Here is a link to the Wikipedia entry...

As for me, I think there are plenty of better ways to unwind or even just kill some time. Honestly, most of the health benefits scientists point to can be explained quite simply—not everyone has the luxury of sitting around for two hours doing absolutely nothing. Isn't it just natural that people who actually have the time to rest would end up being healthier? 😎

Transcendental Meditation is honestly life-changing. Whenever I get some time in to meditate, I feel absolutely incredible for the rest of the day.
I usually make sure to fit it in about 2 or 3 times a week.

Rebecca Cox2 said:Here is a link to the Wikipedia entry...

As for me, I think there are plenty of better ways to unwind or even just kill some time. Honestly, most of the health benefits scientists point to can be explained quite simply—not everyone has the luxury of sitting around for two hours doing absolutely nothing. Isn't it just natural that people who actually have the time to rest would end up being healthier? 😎

Transcendental Meditation is actually backed by over 300 scientific studies proving it really works.