When Randy Mackenzie graduated from college 50 years ago, he was looking for a way to improve his quality of his life. “That’s when I found Transcendental Meditation® (TM) and I haven't looked back since,” he says. Today, he’s a certified teacher and co-director of the Transcendental Meditation centers in Summit and Red Bank. He has taught over 5000 people around the world, including 2000 in New Jersey.
The Transcendental Meditation movement originated with its founder, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. “The technique is thousands of years old, and originally it was kept secluded in the Himalayas in
India. But then, about 65 years ago, Maharishi was inspired to make TM available to the rest of the world by doing world tours and teaching thousands of people.”
In order to make it available to even more people, he also started training teachers, like Randy. “We learn how to teach the same way that it has always been taught.”
While many think meditation practices are all the similar, that is not true. Randy explains that there are three fundamental categories of meditation. One is concentration, another is contemplation, and the other is effortless self-transcending, which is where TM falls. They all have different brain waves and produce different results. TM has been found to be easier and produces a deeper experience.
TM is uniquely different, he explains, in the sense that it does not give the mind anything to focus on or think about. “TM uses a tool to turn the mind inwards, and because these quieter levels of the mind are more satisfying, it naturally goes in a direction of doing less and less until there is a possibility of transcending thought. We can go beyond thought and experience what we call pure awareness, pure consciousness. It is a state of being.”
The tool consists of two things: the mantra, which is a specific meaningless sound that turns the mind inwards, and then how to use the mantra correctly so that there is this systematic reduction in mental and physical activity.”
When this happens, the mind becomes more coherent and more orderly, and at the same time, a very deep level of rest occurs that releases not only surface fatigue, but deeper-rooted stresses and strains that we have accumulated over time,” he says.
“So, we’re not meditating for the sake of meditation, but rather that our activity becomes more enjoyable and more productive afterward. Mental clarity improves, and our body gets healthier, cortisol levels go down 30% each time, and the physiology becomes more resilient to stress. And, all of this automatically improves our behavior in personal relationships because we're not so uptight or tired and are able to be more accepting and tolerant of people. Our whole environment starts to improve as a result.”
Students come from all walks of life, and once the technique is learned, it can be done anywhere. “We recommend that people do it twice a day for 20 minutes each time, but even once a day will have benefits,” he says. “TM is the most highly researched technique for personal development in the world. There are over 400 peer-reviewed studies done on TM.”
As a non-profit organization, Transcendental Meditation centers are committed to making TM available to as many people as possible with lifetime follow up. Fees are income-based, and there are currently scholarships available for free classes. There are also free information sessions and a money-back satisfaction guarantee. “Our international goal is world peace,” says Randy.
To transcend your thoughts and find your peace, and discover more about Transcendental Meditation, go to TM.org/Centers/Summit.
“TM is the most highly researched technique for personal development in the world.”