Frequently Asked Questions on TSM
Q: I would really like to experience a real meditation but my mind is just too busy. I've tried the visual exercise of sweeping out my thoughts, the physical exercise of focusing on my breath, the mental exercise of tightening then releasing all of my muscles starting with my toes and working my way up...
A: Anyone can practice TSM - any age, profession, education, religion or culture. The technique allows the activity of the mind to settle down in a natural way until it is left quiet, but still wide-awake. It's so simple. There is no concentration or visualization required and the less you work at it the better the results.
TSM is natural. It's just like gravity. If you don't believe in gravity, and you drop a tennis ball, the ball still falls. In the same way, the TSM Meditation method is automatic. It does not require any belief. It works for everyone.
Q: How much time will it take out of my day?
A: Twenty minutes, twice a day. Often this can be accommodated with no real change of routine. The TSM technique can be practiced anywhere - sitting comfortably at home, in the office, on an airplane or on the bus on the way to work. Furthermore, people often find that the extra energy and clarity gained from the TSM program actually saves them time.
Q: What do we do about thoughts during TSM Meditation?
A: New students of TSM Meditation are instructed in how to allow thoughts during meditation and thereby defuse their negative charges. With practice, the mind settles down and the body follows. This healing state of deep, restful meditation and silence is sometimes called restful alertness. It’s where the mind and body naturally go to heal.
By reaching that level of rest one automatically untangles those stored charges and releases them from the grip they hold over us. This results in thinking that becomes free from those negative emotional distractions. Here is the formula for solving problems before they arise and living a more creative and fulfilled life.
TSM Meditation students learn how to effortlessly navigate during their practice. Thoughts are part of the practice and students are taught how to allow for them. Deep meditation is not attained by controlling thoughts or trying to still the mind.
Q: Will it take me years to master?
A: Just the opposite. TSM is easy to learn and effortless to practice. The course consists of a couple of hours on each of four consecutive days - or close to it, with a recommended follow-up program to ensure that you are gaining full benefit. At the end of this time you will be self-sufficient in the practice. You are not joining a group or becoming part of an organization.
Q: But will it be a long time before I start to see benefit?
A:It varies from individual to individual. The long-term benefits of regular meditation are cumulative, but new meditators notice positive growth and development in their life almost immediately. Experience has shown that correct practice of TSM on a regular twice-daily basis is very important for gaining the most from the technique.
Q: Will I become so relaxed that I am not motivated for success?
A: No. By eliminating stress and tension, and by increasing energy and intelligence, TSM provides an effective basis for dynamism and success in life. People in positions of responsibility who have learned TSM find that the removal of stress gives them clarity, perspective and vigour. In addition they experience many health benefits and improvements in relations with friends and family.
Q: Will I be required to study a great deal?
A: Not at all. The practice of TSM requires no intellectual effort. Everything you need to know will be explained in simple language during the course.
Q: Can I learn the TSM Meditation from a book or a tape?
A: No. Each person is unique and has a different nervous system. Ensuring that you learn the technique properly at the pace that is correct for you requires personal instruction from an experienced teacher.
Reading a book or listening to a tape cannot provide the experience of pure consciousness and the corresponding state of restful alertness that TSM brings. A book can't answer all of the questions, at the right time, that people might have while learning the practice. With proper personal instruction, you can enjoy the technique for the rest of your life as well as all of the benefits it naturally unfolds.
Q: Will it interfere with my existing beliefs?
A: No. TSM is a technique, pure and simple. It involves no religion, belief, philosophy or change in lifestyle. The practice does not conflict with any existing beliefs, religious or otherwise; yet at the same time people often find that regular meditation gives clarity and perspective to their highest aspirations. Millions of people of all beliefs - including clergy of all religions - practice TSM.
Q: Will I be required to chant, or adopt unusual postures?
A: No. When you meditate you sit comfortably with your eyes closed, in silence. To the onlooker it may appear as though you are resting. It is perfectly possible, for instance, to meditate on a plane or train.
Q: How does it differ from other systems of meditation?
A: Other systems generally involve either concentration (which means effort) or contemplation (thinking about something), both of which tend to keep the mind lively and active. TSM is a completely natural, effortless practice.
Q: I have a history of ill health. Can I meditate safely?
A: Yes, it is completely safe. Of course if you are taking medical treatment we recommend that you continue to take your doctor's advice. A large and growing number of health professionals both practice TSM and recommend it to their patients. The health benefits are far-reaching and have been rigorously examined in literally hundreds of prestigious medical publications.
Q: Is it really compatible with a modern, Western lifestyle?
A: Absolutely! In fact the busier we become, the more important it is that we take time to rest properly - to recharge our batteries.