through meditation, enquiry, & chanting
TM became popular in the 1960’s and 1970’s when Maharishi Mahesh Yogi toured the world and trained thousands of TM teachers.
Maharishi was also one of the first promoters in western countries of the Vedic traditions of Ayur Veda (for health), Sthapatya Veda (ideal architecture), Gandharva Veda (music for well-being), as well as the idea of creating world peace through meditation. He organised the scientific study of meditation in the fields of physiology, biochemistry, and sociology, and presented meditation as a scientifically validated practice.
Maharishi’s guru was Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, a widely respected figure who held the title of the Shankaracharya of Northern India. Maharishi usually referred to him as Guru Dev, and whenever he gave talks he always ended with “Jai Guru Dev”, acknowledging that he owed his own wisdom to the years spent with his guru. Here is more information about him.
Throughout the ages, there has been a transmission of knowledge about yoga, meditation and enlightenment from teacher to student. Maharishi, the founder of the TM organization, referred to it as the Vedic Tradition, or Vedanta. The particular strand of tradition that TM is derived from has its roots in the Himalayas.
Artefacts recovered from submerged remains of towns off the north-west coast of India have illustrations of what look like yoga postures. Carbon dating shows them to be over 11,000 years old, indicating the longevity of this culture.
