Transcendental Meditation: The Essential Teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The classic text revised and updated Paperback – October 8, 2012

I remember reading this book in 1973, when it first came out, and being impressed by its clear and friendly style. The book was genuinely helpful in understanding what meditation is (Transcendental or otherwise), and who Maharishi is and what he was trying to accomplish. This was done without any of the emerging "new age" jargon or vagueness that later came to be associated with terms like meditation, yoga, guru, and the like.Since that time (full disclosure) I have become friends with Jack Forem, and we have stayed in touch for the last 40 years. Many books on TM and/or Maharishi have come out, some good and some utterly misinformed. It's a great relief to me that Jack's book is now back in print, significantly revised and updated, to serve as the most accessible and most complete account of what Maharishi taught to so many people for so many years. The other books have individual appeal, but this -- to me -- is the one that covers all the bases, and does so without selling anything or "debunking" anything. TM works, and there's no significant debate in the face of hundreds of studies of its benefits, but how and why it works are good to know.For decades I've recommended the original version of this book (long out of print) to all kinds of people, and none of them has ever had a bad word to say about it. Now that it's been brought up to date, and is back in print, I look forward to recommending it for another few decades. If you're already practicing TM, this book may clarify a lot of things for you. If you're just curious, or want to get a more realistic idea who Maharishi was, this book is a great introduction (with plenty of depth as well). If you're thinking of trying TM for yourself, this book is like a long weekend chatting with a friendly expert. (Learning TM doesn't take that long, but learning ABOUT it is pretty fascinating.)

This book is an outstanding introduction to, and discussion of, Transcendental Meditation - what it really is, the history, how it works, and the benefits of its practice. IT IS NOT A HOW-TO BOOK. The author never claims that it is. In fact he goes out of his way several times to emphasize that fact. TM must be learned face to face from a carefully trained instructor. Now, isn't this true of any serious pursuit or skill in life? You don't become a concert pianist by reading a book, or learn to fly an F-18. Nor do you dive into brain surgery after reading Cliff Notes. You have to get the training from someone who has been down the path before you and knows what you need. Thinking you can do it yourself is just vanity, or laziness. And for all you complaining about the cost of TM: you pay for your food, don't you? You pay for your clothing and shelter, don't you? Taxes? So why shouldn't you pay for a technique clinically proven and field tested to show it will improve your life? As far as Mr. Forem's exceptional book is concerned, I think it would be worth reading even if you weren't interested in meditation, but simply cared about living a better life.

Most books written for beginners, on any topic at all, offer very little new or useful for experts in the field; books for accomplished adepts generally leave newcomers scratching their heads in perplexity. Jack Forem has written a book that is magically helpful for people who don't meditate but are thinking about it, for relatively new meditators, and for long-time, advanced practitioners as well. This is a remarkable feat.Using simple language and a conversational style, he introduces a wide range of knowledge about meditation - what kinds there are, how they differ, and most of all, using extensive scientific references, how their effects and benefits vary. He explains foundational principles of Maharishi's Vedic Science, ideas that are profound and life-transforming, in a way that makes them easily accessible.I read the original version of the book many years ago, and I concur with other reviewers here that it has been substantially, almost entirely revised. As Forem says about the old vs. new versions, "Based on more than 40 years of personal experience with Maharishi's teachings, and conversations and interviews with hundreds of people, I have revised and updated it, taking into consideration, among other things, a mountain of scientific research that continues to verify the deep truth, logical beauty, and universal effectiveness of Maharishi's teachings."Transcendental Meditation: The Essential Teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, is a fabulous introduction to the age-old practice of TM and its wide range of benefits for health, education, effective action, sweeter relationships, and more; at the same time, it serves as an advanced manual explaining key experiences on the path of enlightenment, the growth of consciousness, for those who have been practicing for decades.

An update to a book that was the go-to guide on TM in the 70's. The author gives an insider's view of TM and its movement through the years. Its written in an easy going, first hand style and explains all about TM, what it is and the philosophy behind it. It also discusses the TM research which, I find rather boring, hence the 4 star rating. NOTE: This book does NOT teach you how to do TM and the books that claim to teach it are scams as this meditation is only taught via personalized training.