TM is taught differently than Benson's Relaxation Response, at least. As to how differently it is taught from other forms of mantra meditation, that would depend on the teacher of that other form of mantra meditation.
Samatha (spelling) is described as simple, effortless concentrative meditation. But it is taught AS focused attention, explained in terms of focused attention, and the theory that explains any and all effects is in terms of focussed attention. From MY perspective, the proof is in the measurable physiological effects of meditation practice, both during practice, and outside of practice. The difference between TM and focussed attention practices become more and more clear with respect to EEG, the longer someone has been practicing them. TM is a form of mind-wandering. The EEG induced by TM is the EEG found in mind-wandering, though a bit slower. Frontal EEG coherence in the alpha frequency band becomes much higher during TM, and higher still during pure consciousness. Focussed attention practices don't show this pattern but a different pattern. As to what this means, good or bad, that's another question, but EEG analysis of TM compared to EEG analysis of focussed attention practices shows some pretty obvious differences, especially in very long-term practitioners. You can see obvious differences by looking at the EEG here: http://www.samadhieeg.org.uk/page4.html http://www.samadhieeg.org.uk/page4.html and here: http://kenchawkin.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/eeg-graph.jpg http://kenchawkin.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/eeg-graph.jpg L ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <noozguru@...> wrote : So why would TM be any different from any other mantra meditation as far as effects? On 04/16/2014 09:53 AM, LEnglish5@... mailto:LEnglish5@... wrote: Have you ever contemplated how you would feel if studies like the effects of TM on PTSD in African war refugees are at least partially confirmed by dis-interested parties? What about if I'm right that Dietrich Lehmann and friends will soon publish research on TM that shows that TM has very much the opposite effect on the brain than they found in this study? http://www.amaye.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/med-connectivity-EEG-tomog.pdf http://www.amaye.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/med-connectivity-EEG-tomog.pdf To my ears, you are sounding progressively more shrill as evidence mounts that TM practice isn't as stupid as you say it is and that the TM organization isn't as single-mindedly evil as you say it is. L ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com mailto:FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <mjackson74@...> mailto:mjackson74@... wrote : Jesus Buck! Of all the exhortations you might give for me to come back to TM the idea of examining the research is the worst! The science is a joke, it is a bunch of people who feed off the Movement saying here is our finding - believe it cuz we say its true and don't pay attention to anything else. I finally had sense enough to conduct my own research into consciousness and into practical reality on the ground with the TMO and discovered that once I stopped thinking that all the crappy stuff that happens in life is something good cuz the Movement says it is, once I stopped turning a blind eye to the abuse the Movement visits on people everyday (you have been on the receiving end of that I see from the excerpt of Joe Webber's book I've been reading) and looked clearly at the results of TM in people's lives, saw the number of men and women who were quitting for various reasons I got the hell out and I am gonna stay out. I won't support an organization that lies, cheats, steals and ruins peoples' lives with no shame. You would do well to take a leaf from my book, cause even tho you have already experienced this, you don't seem to have gotten the memo that if you fool around with the TMO, you are gonna get treated like garbage. --------------------------------------------
