TM doesn't *stand alone*, it's the practical aspect of the overall "eternal Religion,.. represented by the Vedas". MMY The Vedas You have six systems of Indian Philosophy, Yoga (TM) is the practical aspect, Sankhya, Vedanta and the others basically represent the theoretical aspect.
Religion means to bind back to one's origin or source, TM is the direct method of doing this, hence, TM IS Religion in the most direct sense. "In order to be complete, knowledge requires the support of ALL six systems", MMY Gita page 352.
