Transcendental Meditation: The Fourth State of Consciousness Scientifically Proven to Help Prevent Disease

By Josh Richardson

Guest writer for Wake Up World

More than 350 peer-reviewed research studies on the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique have been published in over 160 scientific journals. It has been shown to increase cardiovascular quality, lower blood pressure, and decrease anxiety. Some quantum physicists consider it the fourth state of consciousness, in which the entire brain may be engaged.

Published research has demonstrated that the practice of regular meditation can increase brain density, boost connections between neurons, decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, increase positive mood endorphins, and provide clarity of thought. Other published studies have shown meditation can also improve physical functioning, decrease chronic disease risks, and enhance overall quality of life.

In a 2008 study, published in the journal PloS One, researchers found that when meditators heard the sounds of people suffering, they had stronger activation levels in their temporal parietal junctures, a part of the brain tied to empathy, than people who did not meditate.

Most of the scientific studies on TM have been conducted at universities and research centers, including Harvard Medical School, Stanford Medical School, Yale Medical School, and UCLA Medical School. Below are some of the most significant findings.

Cardiovascular Disease

A journal of the American Heart Association 5-year randomized controlled study on patients with established coronary heart disease reports a 48% reduction in death, heart attack, and stroke in subjects in the TM group compared to controls.

Hypertension

An American Heart Association scientific statement concludes that the TM technique is the only meditation practice that has been shown to lower blood pressure and recommends that TM may be considered in clinical practice for the prevention and treatment of hypertension.

Anxiety

A report published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine — based on a meta-analysis of TM that looked at 16 trials and 1,295 participants — finds significantly greater effect of TM in reducing trait anxiety than treatment-as-usual and other alternative treatments, including mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) and other meditation and relaxation practices.

These are just a few of the hundreds of studies now showing the effectiveness of TM.

Get Transcendental

Many people say this easy-to-practice technique has a transforming effect – they report major health benefits, and say their lives become much more enjoyable and balanced.

Unlike other forms of meditation, TM practice involves no concentration, no control of the mind, no contemplation, no monitoring of thoughts. It’s a simple, natural technique practiced 20 minutes twice each day while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed.

The TM technique is easy to learn and enjoyable to practice, and [perhaps most importantly] it is not a religion, philosophy, or lifestyle. Over six million people have learned it — people of all ages, cultures, and religions.

The TM technique allows your mind to settle inward, through quieter levels of thought, until you experience the most silent and peaceful level of your own awareness — pure consciousness. This is known as ‘automatic self-transcending’.

But why not find out for yourself?

Related reading: Criminal Rehabilitation: 1001 Benefits of Transcending

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About the author:

Josh Richardson is blogger, healer, and a constant pursuer of the natural state of human consciousness.