Transcendence: Healing and Transformation Through Transcendental Meditation
Encyclopedia
Transcendence: Healing and Transformation Through Transcendental Meditation is a book written by psychiatrist
and researcher Norman E. Rosenthal
, published in 2011 by the Tarcher imprint of the Penguin Group
. It presents the author's personal experiences with Transcendental Meditation, some research on the Transcendental Meditation technique
and interviews with celebrity practitioners. The book contains a forward by Mehmet Oz
and four main sections entitled: "Transcendence", "Healing", "Transformation", and "Harmony"
, his analysis and commentary on the Transcendental Meditation research
, and interviews with celebrity practitioners such as Paul McCartney
, Ringo Starr
, David Lynch
, Martin Scorsese
, Laura Dern
, Russell Brand
and Moby
. The author draws upon the experiences of his patients and clinical research studies to outline the potential benefits of TM in the areas of stress
, anxiety
and depression
, addiction
, attention-deficit disorder (ADHD) and post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD). He relates the ways that the Transcendental Meditation technique has impacted individuals such as those with mental illnesses or addictions, inner-city schoolchildren, veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder
, and formerly homeless and incarcerated men.
According to the publisher the book "demystifies the practice and benefits of Transcendental Meditation" and describes "how it is learned, or what they [the readers] stand to gain, physically and emotionally, from achieving transcendence". According to the author it is "not a manual on how to do" the Transcendental Meditation technique but rather an attempt "to show how much it can do".
and a question and answer interview with Bob Roth, Executive Director
of the David Lynch Foundation
, in the Appendix
.
The body of the book is divided into four parts: "Transcendence", "Healing", "Transformation", and "Harmony". Each section contains multiple chapters and sub-themes that respectively cover: (1) the "state of consciousness called transcendence"; (2) research on the physical benefits of TM; (3) its impact on the mind as indicated by research and the anecdotal stories of "people whose lives it has transformed"; and (4) TM's contribution to harmony "within the mind, between mind and body, between people, and within society".
The first section, called "Transcendence", describes the author's personal history with the Transcendental Meditation technique; how he first heard about it, when and why he learned and the people he has met who are practicing the technique. He describes his personal experience of "transcendence" and how others describe their experience of it. He covers various aspects of meditation practice and explains transcendence as a "mind with the mind". He describes some of meditations measurable effects on the mind and body and closes with a description of a higher state of consciousness
called "cosmic consciousness" or enlightenment
.
The second section is called "Healing", and describes the author's evaluation of the Transcendental Meditation technique's ability to manage toxic stress, particularly in regard to heart disease
and hypertension
.
The third section is called "Transformation" and details the potential effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique on anxiety
, ADHD, addiction
, prison rehabilitation
, academic performance and school violence
. The section also discuss the development of an individual's personal best through self-actualization.
The final section is called "Harmony" and discusses the relationship of Transcendental Meditation to both personal and world harmony. In this section the author discusses the concept of coherence and draws parallels between conherence in the brain and harmony in society.
, Best seller, Hardcover Non-Fiction list during its first week of publication.
One reviewer, Therese J. Borchard of Psych Central, wrote: "I opened the book and began to read stories that inspired me and gave me hope that one day I might be a meditator too" and the "chapters on how TM can help treat acute anxiety, major depression, and bipolar disorder" were "especially enlightening".
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
and researcher Norman E. Rosenthal
Norman E. Rosenthal
Norman E. Rosenthal is a psychiatrist and scientist who in the 1980s first described winter depression or seasonal affective disorder , and pioneered the use of light therapy for its treatment....
, published in 2011 by the Tarcher imprint of the Penguin Group
Penguin Group
The Penguin Group is a trade book publisher, the largest in the world , having overtaken Random House in 2009. The Penguin Group is the name of the incorporated division of parent Pearson PLC that oversees these publishing operations...
. It presents the author's personal experiences with Transcendental Meditation, some research on the Transcendental Meditation technique
Transcendental Meditation technique
The Transcendental Meditation technique is a specific form of mantra meditation often referred to as Transcendental Meditation. It was introduced in India in 1955 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi...
and interviews with celebrity practitioners. The book contains a forward by Mehmet Oz
Mehmet Oz
Mehmet Cengiz Oz , also known as Dr. Oz, is a Turkish-American cardiothoracic surgeon, author, talk show host, and commentator for The Dr. Oz Show, a daily television program focusing on medical issues/personal health....
and four main sections entitled: "Transcendence", "Healing", "Transformation", and "Harmony"
Overview
The book's presents the author's personal experiences with Transcendental MeditationTranscendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation refers to the Transcendental Meditation technique, a specific form of mantra meditation, and to the Transcendental Meditation movement, a spiritual movement...
, his analysis and commentary on the Transcendental Meditation research
Transcendental Meditation research
Practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation technique have claimed that the technique is more effective than other meditation practices. Independent systematic reviews have not found health benefits for the Transcendental Meditation technique beyond relaxation or health education...
, and interviews with celebrity practitioners such as Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
, Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
, Laura Dern
Laura Dern
Laura Elizabeth Dern is an American actress, film director and producer. Dern has acted in such films as Smooth Talk , Blue Velvet , Fat Man and Little Boy , Wild at Heart , Jurassic Park and October Sky...
, Russell Brand
Russell Brand
Russell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, columnist, singer, author and radio/television presenter.Brand achieved mainstream fame in the UK in 2004 for his role as host of Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother's Big Mouth. His first major film role was in the 2007 film St Trinians...
and Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
. The author draws upon the experiences of his patients and clinical research studies to outline the potential benefits of TM in the areas of stress
Stress (biology)
Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance...
, anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
and depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
, addiction
Addiction
Historically, addiction has been defined as physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances which cross the blood-brain barrier once ingested, temporarily altering the chemical milieu of the brain.Addiction can also be viewed as a continued involvement with a substance or activity...
, attention-deficit disorder (ADHD) and post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumaticstress disorder is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one's own or someone else's physical, sexual, or psychological integrity,...
(PTSD). He relates the ways that the Transcendental Meditation technique has impacted individuals such as those with mental illnesses or addictions, inner-city schoolchildren, veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumaticstress disorder is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one's own or someone else's physical, sexual, or psychological integrity,...
, and formerly homeless and incarcerated men.
According to the publisher the book "demystifies the practice and benefits of Transcendental Meditation" and describes "how it is learned, or what they [the readers] stand to gain, physically and emotionally, from achieving transcendence". According to the author it is "not a manual on how to do" the Transcendental Meditation technique but rather an attempt "to show how much it can do".
Content
The book contains a forward by Mehmet OzMehmet Oz
Mehmet Cengiz Oz , also known as Dr. Oz, is a Turkish-American cardiothoracic surgeon, author, talk show host, and commentator for The Dr. Oz Show, a daily television program focusing on medical issues/personal health....
and a question and answer interview with Bob Roth, Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the David Lynch Foundation
David Lynch Foundation
The David Lynch Foundation For Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace is a global charitable foundation based in Fairfield, Iowa. It was founded by film director and Transcendental Meditation practitioner David Lynch in 2005....
, in the Appendix
Appendix
Appendix may refer to:In documents:*Addendum, any addition to a document, such as a book or legal contract*Bibliography, a systematic list of books and other works...
.
The body of the book is divided into four parts: "Transcendence", "Healing", "Transformation", and "Harmony". Each section contains multiple chapters and sub-themes that respectively cover: (1) the "state of consciousness called transcendence"; (2) research on the physical benefits of TM; (3) its impact on the mind as indicated by research and the anecdotal stories of "people whose lives it has transformed"; and (4) TM's contribution to harmony "within the mind, between mind and body, between people, and within society".
The first section, called "Transcendence", describes the author's personal history with the Transcendental Meditation technique; how he first heard about it, when and why he learned and the people he has met who are practicing the technique. He describes his personal experience of "transcendence" and how others describe their experience of it. He covers various aspects of meditation practice and explains transcendence as a "mind with the mind". He describes some of meditations measurable effects on the mind and body and closes with a description of a higher state of consciousness
Consciousness
Consciousness is a term that refers to the relationship between the mind and the world with which it interacts. It has been defined as: subjectivity, awareness, the ability to experience or to feel, wakefulness, having a sense of selfhood, and the executive control system of the mind...
called "cosmic consciousness" or enlightenment
Enlightenment (spiritual)
Enlightenment in a secular context often means the "full comprehension of a situation", but in spiritual terms the word alludes to a spiritual revelation or deep insight into the meaning and purpose of all things, communication with or understanding of the mind of God, profound spiritual...
.
The second section is called "Healing", and describes the author's evaluation of the Transcendental Meditation technique's ability to manage toxic stress, particularly in regard to heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
and hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
.
The third section is called "Transformation" and details the potential effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique on anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
, ADHD, addiction
Addiction
Historically, addiction has been defined as physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances which cross the blood-brain barrier once ingested, temporarily altering the chemical milieu of the brain.Addiction can also be viewed as a continued involvement with a substance or activity...
, prison rehabilitation
Rehabilitation (penology)
Rehabilitation means; To restore to useful life, as through therapy and education or To restore to good condition, operation, or capacity....
, academic performance and school violence
School violence
School violence is widely held to have become a serious problem in recent decades in many countries, especially where weapons such as guns or knives are involved...
. The section also discuss the development of an individual's personal best through self-actualization.
The final section is called "Harmony" and discusses the relationship of Transcendental Meditation to both personal and world harmony. In this section the author discusses the concept of coherence and draws parallels between conherence in the brain and harmony in society.
Reception
The book appeared at number seven on the NY Times list of Best Sellers: Hardcover Advice, How-To And Miscellaneous and number 14 on the ABC NewsABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
, Best seller, Hardcover Non-Fiction list during its first week of publication.
One reviewer, Therese J. Borchard of Psych Central, wrote: "I opened the book and began to read stories that inspired me and gave me hope that one day I might be a meditator too" and the "chapters on how TM can help treat acute anxiety, major depression, and bipolar disorder" were "especially enlightening".