TM (Transcendental Meditation) is a narrow focus meditation done with a repeated mantrum solely on the aural sensory channel. This is diametrically opposed to an open-awareness meditation (like Vipassana) that usually begins with paying attention to the breath, but then expands to paying attention to the entire body on any or all sensory channels, including whatever the mind has to say about the sensory experience. The awareness, however, is *outside* the paradigm (i.e. "frame" or "box") of that commentary.
Because the former is "point-of-focus" (PoF) it cancels out incoming awareness of stimuli on other channels, as well as any consideration of or commentary about such stimuli. Which makes it the perfect vehicle for setting up its practitioners to train the subject to focus solely on what the guru or leader is saying.
If commentary on cults going back to Jesus's time is accurate, PoF has been abused by gurus for several millennia. Exiters of several ostensibly "Hindu" and "Buddhist" cults (including ISKCON and OSHO), as well as some of the "human potential" cults (including CoS, Silva Mind Control, Ekankar and est / The Forum / Landmark), told me that they were subjected to increasingly more abusive "harrangues" and "verbal abuse" as they moved up the levels of the pyramid toward more loyal, "responsible," authoritarian, guru-replicant levels.
None of them understood what was going on. But it became clear to me as a Watson-, Skinner- and Bandura-trained, "behavior modification" psychotherapist that they were being subjected to a far more efficient, effective and cynical version of what used to be called "sensitivity training" in police academies, "management-by-intimidation training" in radical business management schools, and "instructional conditioning" in military officer candidate school. (Think "An Officer & A Gentleman.")
Thus, PoF meditation itself does not so much exacerbate the effects as it concentrates the mind's attention onto the "emotional blackmail" utilization of "FOG" -- or fear, obligation & guilt -- as well as shame for failing to meet the guru's and peers' mandates, expectations and requirements. (The mandates, expectations and requirements are increasingly internalized into the superego's of the PoF meditation practitioner who is subjected to this type of behavior modification scheme.)
The true believing original poster here will now go to the list of pull-quotes he has been given (or has developed himself, IDK4S) to attempt to refute what I just wrote. He cannot do otherwise because his own mind has internalized the instructional conditioning via applied use of social constructivism. He is no longer free to react in any manner other than to defend what he has been animal-trained to believe without feeling discomfiting fear, failed obligation and intolerable guilt if he fails to do so.
very interesting points
ReplyDelete"TM (Transcendental Meditation) is a narrow focus meditation done with a repeated mantrum solely on the aural sensory channel."
ReplyDeleteThat may be the way people who have had bad experiences with TM describe it, but that's not what I was taught. The way we learned it was more like what is nowadays called "non-directed" meditation. You start off with a few repetitions of the mantrum, then "let go" of it, defocus the mind and let it drift, as in a daydream. The mantrum remains as a sort of after-effect in the background, and you simply watch whatever impressions that come up, go on by without engaging. Your attention wanders where it will.
They told us to avoid concentrating. Don't try. Let go.
And I don't see how you can say it's on the aural sensory channel alone; you don't actually hear it, it's imaginary. Mine is also visual (I could draw you a picture of where it goes when I let go of it) and felt as a sensation I don't really have words for...
The whole point seems to me is relaxing more deeply than ever, releasing deep tensions and allowing the nervous system to function more smoothly.
I suppose it should be noted, I'm not a member of the TM organization, never was. I just took the mantra and ran. I don't like the organization, the way it's run like an industry, and they do overtly try to keep members from "thinking outside the box," etc. So it may be cult-like; I just wish when people go to denigrate it, they would get their info on the technique correct.
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