Transcendental Meditation     Scientific Research     Frequently Asked Questions     What is the mind?     Maharishi Effect     1969 Maharishi Interview     Trademark disclaimer     More Information    Transcendental Meditation    Natural Stress Relief    Tecnica Naturale Anti-Stress Maharishi Interview with Leslie Smith. BBC Radio 4, UK. October 14, 1969. A rare and important resource for understanding Transcendental Meditation. Transcription by Istituto Scientia (from original recording by courtesy of BBC). Part 1 - What Transcendental Meditation is. Maharishi: Transcendental Meditation is a process of experiencing consciously the subtle state of thinking and getting to the source of thinking, and the source of thinking is a reservoir of energy and intelligence. Thought flows, due to energy, and it takes a direction, due to intelligence. [...] When the mind goes deep within, the thinking process... Smith: ... as in sleep, you mean? Maharishi: Not in sleep. In sleep the mind is tired [...] and remains on the same level. Here, in Transcendental Meditation, the mind becomes sharper and sharper and it experiences the finer states of thought, and by the time it explores the source of thought, it gains bliss consciousness. Smith: What has the word 'transcendental' got to do with this? Maharishi: 'Transcendental' means: the mind [...] 'transcends' the experience of thought[...], gets through the [...] finest state of thought and thereby it is 'transcending' the field of thought. That's why we call it 'Transcendental Meditation'. Part 2 - How to practice Transcendental Meditation. Smith: Suppose [...] I say: please tell me how to meditate transcendentally. What advice would you give me? Maharishi: I'll suggest to you... one syllable. Smith: A syllable? What you mean? Maharishi: By syllable I mean some sound... Smith: ... like 'rose', for example, 'room'... ? Maharishi: No, some sound which will not have any meaning. Its value will be just the sound. Smith: Well, could you give me an example of such a sound? Maharishi: [...] When we say a rose, then the mind goes on the rose and the mind floats on the horizontal level [...]: thinking, contemplating something, is the horizontal activity of the mind... Smith: ... can you give me an example of such a syllable? Maharishi: Examples? We don't give [...] Smith: So you keep it a secret. Maharishi: It's a secret. Everyone is told to keep that sound, on which he experiences the subtle states [...], to keep it in himself. Part 3 - Why someone would want to meditate. Smith: Suppose I come to you and I say: "Why should I meditate transcendentally?" , what answer would you offer me? Maharishi: ... For the expansion of the mind. Mind should expand. In psychology we know that the man uses only a small portion of his mind. Smith: So, the benefit would be to myself. Maharishi: Of course. Smith: Nobody else? Maharishi: [...] On the social behavior: when one has an expanded state of consciousness, when he is happier and he thinks clearer, whatever he does and how he behave is on a much improved level. Smith: How can you be sure that this state will make a better person? Maharishi: Because, if a man uses a small portion of mind, he must be small in his understanding, in his thinking, in his feeling, in his behavior. And, if he uses a bigger portion of mind, he must be a man of much clearer thinking, more powerful thought, more refined and more accomplishing in the field of action, with sweet behavior in love and harmony... Smith: It doesn't follow that he will be a better person: he might be a worse person, because he might use a greater portion of his mind to do the harmful things than the smaller portion of his mind has already let in to do. Maharishi: Ha ha... But the thing is that the source of thought, where is the source of energy and intelligence, is bliss consciousness. Smith: What do you mean with "bliss consciousness"? Maharishi: "Bliss consciousness" creates a very happy, jolly mood. Smith: The sort of happy, jolly mood that people claim to get from a bottle of whisky? Maharishi: And then, the after effects of whisky are disasters, but the after effects of meditation are much more natural, because one comes out with a happy mood, and then he enjoys the world better and behaves much better, the actions are more profound. Smith: But why should he behave much better? I mean: are you teaching him the different between right and wrong? Maharishi: No, we don't teach him the difference between right and wrong. We improve his level of consciousness, and then he sees what right is and what wrong would be, and then he behaves better within himself. Smith: Has nothing to do with God at all, has it? Maharishi: The whole creation and everything has to do with God, but belief in God has nothing to do with Transcendental Meditation [...]. Part 4 - The difference between Transcendental Meditation and prayer. [transcription to be completed soon] Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Part 5 - The link between Transcendental Meditation and society. Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: Smith: Maharishi: [transcription to be completed soon] © 2006-2007  Istituto Scientia