Difference between Transcendental Meditation and Vipassana Meditation


What is Transcendental Meditation?

It is one of the techniques of meditation in which one mentally repeats a word or a phrase until they attain a state on inner peace. This technique is highly beneficial in lowering blood pressure and reducing stress. This technique helps settle down the body to a state of restful alertness. It also relaxes the body deeply and keeps the mind quiet, while we are still wide awake.

In 1950s, Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi developed the technique of transcendental meditation. Later in 1960s, the technique became popular and The Beatles along with some other celebrities started practicing it. It is estimated that today there are around 6 million people who have learned and are practicing transcendental meditation.

This technique is quite simple and effortless. Sit comfortably on the floor and keep your eyes closed. Repeat a mantra in your head. Practice this procedure twice a day for 20 minutes. There are many resources like books, videos and various other apps to learn this technique. But to learn this technique effectively one must take lessons from a certified teacher at the Maharishi Foundation. The course includes one hour of lecture and one hour of one-on-one training with your trainer.

There are several benefits of transcendental meditation as listed below.

  • Physical benefits − It reduces blood pressure, improves sleep, and also helps in pain management.

  • Mental health benefits − It reduces stress, anxiety and depression, helps manage post-traumatic stress and also helps improve self-esteem.

  • Cognitive benefits − It increases performance, productivity and problem-solving skills. It also improves creativity, intelligence, awareness, focus and concentration.

  • Emotional benefits − It enhances clarity of thoughts and feelings. It also helps increase gratitude and compassion.

What is Vipassana Meditation?

It is a type of mindfulness meditation originating from the original teachings of Lord Buddha. Vipassana meditation is a way to obverse oneself without any judgement that helps achieve enlightenment. It takes over 10 days to complete the course of this meditation technique during which the participants learn the basics of this method and practice it under experienced teachers.

It is one of the oldest techniques of meditation and requires no belief system. It has nothing to deal with paranormal or mystical beliefs. It is compatible with all religions or philosophical outlook. It is basically a journey to discover oneself during which one gets ample opportunities to experience the truths of ancient teachings. The goal here is to purify mind, develop values like compassion and equanimity and improve empathy.

The underlying principle of this meditation technique is that mental impurities start developing when we start ignoring the root cause of our sufferings. Vipassana meditation helps remove this ignorance by developing insight into the true nature of reality. It is said that vipassana meditation originates from Buddha who used it to attain enlightenment. Then, he taught this technique to 60 disciples and sent them away in different directions. That is how this meditation technique spread over northern India by kings and emperors.

The first stage of vipassana is the practice of sila in which one abstains from doing any harm such as stealing, lying or consuming drugs. This calms down the mind and improves concentration power. The next stage is the practice of samadhi in which one focuses on breathing to gain control over mind. After gaining control, one can start working on the underlying mental impurities. The final stage is vipassana itself in which one breaks down the mental barriers to observe their true self and for mind purification.

Difference between Transcendental Meditation and Vipassana Meditation

The following table highlights the major differences between Transcendental Meditation and Vipassana Meditation −

Factor

Transcendental Meditation

Vipassana Meditation

Definition

This form of meditation aims at achieving a state of calm, awareness, reducing disturbing thoughts and encourage consciousness.

This form of meditation aims at cleansing mental impurities.

History

It was started by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1955, who had learned it from his master Brahmananda Saraswati.

It is a 2500 years old meditation technique discovered by Goutam Buddha.

Popularity

In 1958, Maharishi Yogi started an international tour to promote it. It became popular when celebrities like the Beatles joined Maharishi Yogi.

Vipassana entered USA in 1960s. It became popular through renowned teachers like SN Goenka and Sayadaw U Pandita.

Practice

The practice includes relaxed diaphragm breathing while maintaining a comfortable position. The practitioner stays aware of his thoughts. They mentally repeat a mantra.

Sit quietly for 10 days and ignore all other activities to understand oneself and improve oneself through meditation.

Benefits

Clears mind and increases awareness about thoughts and lessons.

It improves eyesight and develops good ability to think power.

The basic difference between the two is that they have different meditating practices. Transcendental meditation involves chanting special mantras while keeping the mind clear. But, vipassana is about keeping all the things crystal-clear while thinking about everything. Also, vipassana meditation is a much older technique than transcendental meditation. Transcendental meditation keeps the body relaxed and stable while vipassana keeps the mind stable and helps control feelings and emotions.

Conclusion

There is no explicit answer to which of the two meditation techniques is better. Some of the benefits of transcendental meditation include great physiological rest and a positive influence on the body as well as mind. As per some experts, transcendental meditation is a form of mantra meditation.

Updated on: 31-Jan-2023

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