Hi,
We're sorry to hear you're not quite satisfied with your TM practice!
Having completed the TM course you are able to schedule a free follow-up with your teacher anytime. We highly recommend taking advantage of this as they can help fine-tune your meditation to create a more effortless and enjoyable experience :)
“Overall I really like the method. Perhaps what I am underwhelmed by is the instruction and the answering of some of the common questions that come up relating to some of the initial challenges. They seemed to be more “brushed off” than addressed as common and importantly providing ideas to help improve the experience.
It is no simple or effortless in the beginning and there are many questions that arise about whtlether or not the technique is proper.
The explanations were left to the old videos of Maharaji who’s explanations are extremely difficult to comprehend.”
We're sorry to hear you didn't have the best experience during your TM course! If you'd like, you are welcome to schedule a free, one-to-one follow-up with your TM teacher (or any TM teacher in the United States) to discuss your experience practicing the TM technique and have any of your questions answered more directly :)
“The technique I am enjoying some of the teachings around it being the other thing that works is concerning and does not sit well. The teachers are kind it just to me feels dangerous and misleading to state no other meditation works or has worked. The wording feels coltish and does not provide safe space for people to descern for themselves if it works or not. Just my experience. Try it on for yourself.... like I said it’s not the technique it is the other things said that pose red flags.”
We are glad to hear that you are enjoying your practice! And thank you for your feedback. We’d like to clarify that while one of the unique things about the TM technique is that it's consistently effective and evidence-based, we don’t mean to say that other meditation techniques don't have value. Other meditations can be a great addition to one’s self-care ’toolbox’. It's just best not to substitute one for another and expect the same results :)
“It's fine... but not much different than the meditation I was doing before... only difference is, that is a mantra meditation. Not quite sure it's worth the money... sorry.”
Other meditations generally involve some kind of observation or concentration, whereas the TM technique doesn’t involve any focused attention or observation of experience. It’s a mantra-based meditation that naturally results in self-transcending. If you are finding your TM practice to be similar to other techniques we suggest scheduling a free follow-up with your TM teachers to fine tune your practice so it's more enjoyable and beneficial :)
“I found learning the process to be enjoyable but it hasn't been working for me very well. Ironically, the simplicity isn't addressing the issues i'm having and tends to add to the frustration.”
Hi Aaron,
The simplicity of the TM practice can take some getting used to, as many (us included) tend to make things more complicated than they need to be. We suggest scheduling a free follow-up with your TM teacher to fine tune your practice so that its as effortless and enjoyable as its meant to be :)
Hi Aderito,
Having completed the TM course you are able to schedule free and unlimited follow-ups with your TM teacher anytime. We suggest finding a time to meet with your teacher to fine tune your practice, and ensure you are practicing correctly so you are able to gain the wonderful benefits of your meditation!
Keep in mind that the TM course fee not only included your instruction in the TM technique, but you are also able to schedule free and unlimited follow-ups, and attend all group meditations and meetings at any TM center in the United States for LIFE!
If you are having trouble with your practice we suggest taking advantage of the free follow-ups and schedule one with your TM teacher :)
Hi Matthew,
It can definitely be tough adding something new into a routine, even if it's good for you! We recently posted some tips to help build healthy habits to our blog if you'd like to check it out - https://www.tm.org/blog/meditation/the-power-of-habit-6-ways-to-prioritize-your-tm-practice/
“There is a misrepresentation in your introductory class. It stated that is a technique only. However, the nature of the course itself has several obvious religious traits that are somewhat impose upon the students. They are, and should be make very clear from the beginning:
* Offerings and the 1:1 (this is clear religious and ceremonial in nature);
* Personality enforcement, whenever talking about the master it is refer to him in present tense (although he passed) and as if he is among us.
These two behaviors are clearly religious and almost like a personality cult. I felt very uncomfortable, misled, and somehow in a bait-and-switch scheme.
I made very clear, from the onset that I'm not religious and am uncomfortable with it.”
Hi Gustavo,
We are apologize for the misunderstanding that's caused you to feel uncomfortable. To clarify, the TM technique is ancient Indian meditation practice and has been passed down through many generations of teachers. Just as we are brought up to say “Thank you” to our grandparents and teachers by bringing them a bouquet of flowers or an apple, the TM teacher also says “Thank you” to these earlier teachers in a traditional way. We ask that the student brings a few flowers, but the teacher is the one saying “Thank you” to the line of teachers, while the student merely observes. The ceremony is traditional, not religious, and serves as a reminder to the TM teacher to always teach the TM technique in the same, careful and correct way that other teachers have for thousands of years to maintain the authenticity of instruction.
We hope this gives you a better understanding. If not, and you still feel uncomfortable we suggest scheduling a free-follow up with your TM teacher to discuss in more detail so that you can proceed with your regular meditations in a comfortable and enjoyable way :)
Hi Nancy,
We're sorry to hear you're having trouble meditating! We suggest scheduling a free follow-up with your TM teacher to discuss your experience and fine tune your practice, so you are able to move forward with easy and enjoyable meditations.
“The explanation I got on exactly what to expect during my meditation seemed incomplete. I know you aren't supposed to worry about whether you are "doing it right" but I was. I read a book recently called BLISS MORE by Light Watkins that helped me more than all my sessions with my teacher.”
Hi! Definitely keep at it - regular and correct practice are really important for getting the benefits of the TM technique :) It sounds like you’re already utilizing this, but just in case, I’ll remind you that you’re welcome to see your TM teacher (or any other) for as many follow-up sessions as needed.
“I am not seeing what all the fuss is about. Maybe I am expecting too much but for $720 I expected more than this, as well as hearing others remark on how great it is!”
Hi! Sorry to hear your TM practice is not meeting your expectations. It can take more time for some people to perceive the benefits, and they aren’t always as dramatic as sometimes described. We recommend scheduling a free follow-up with your teacher to make sure you’re practicing correctly and help you get the most out of it, but also want to remind you of our satisfaction guarantee. Your TM teacher can also help you pursue that if you’d like.
“Actually somewhere between acceptable and "well.....ok". Instead of "feeling refreshed" as the practice is supposed to make you I come out it very tired and kind of worn out. I really can't pinpoint what it is doing for me. I am doing it twice a day for 20 minutes in the hopes that the great mystery will reveal itself but up to now it is not what it was billed as.”
Hi Richard,
It sounds like you would benefit from a refresher with you TM teacher - they’ll double check that you’re still practicing correctly, which is really important for receiving the benefits (even small alterations to the technique can impact its effectiveness!)
