http://www.macgregorministries.org/cult_groups/tm.html
Transcendental Meditation
Compared with Bible Meditation

For a copy of the TM Mantra (prayer) click here.



For many years Christian churches have been sending missionaries over
to heathen lands to bring the message of Jesus Christ. The tide has
turned now, with the heathen lands sending their missionaries into
"Christian" countries, bringing with them their personal brand of
Hinduism. Many meditation faiths have sprung up and infiltrated our
government programs, schools, improvement courses, and even our
churches.

At the roots of all these Eastern Religions is basic Hinduism, or
Pantheism, that is, the belief that God is the sum of all beings,
forces etc., everything present in the Universe. In Hinduism there is
no evil, for how can God be evil? Since God is in everything and
indeed, is everything, He becomes an "it", an impersonal force.

The believer in Hinduism or one of its forms, is always striving to be
in tune with the cosmic force, which is god. This striving for
"god-consciousness" is done by practicing a form of meditation. Since
this Eastern teaching of an impersonal god-force is not too palatable
to the "Christian" countries who are used to a personal Savior who
cares for them, a personal God who loves them, some adaptations were
needed to make Eastern religion palatable and acceptable to people in
the "Christian" countries, many of them nominal Christians. This was
accomplished in three ways1. Absorb the existing religion into
Hinduism, which is full of endless philosophies anyway, and never ask
the interested person to give up the God of their forefathers, or the
Jesus of their Sunday School youth. The meditation, it is promised,
will draw you closer to your own God, your own religion. "You'll
understand Jesus better" is the assurance.

2. Present a Christ-substitute to satisfy the Christian mind. Thus we
see Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church being presented as "Lord
of the Second Advent". The Guru Maharaj Ji of the Divine Light Mission
calls himself "Lord of the Universe", and "Perfect Master". Both are
believed by their respective followers to be Christ come again. Meher
Baba of Sufism Reoriented, Inc. states, "There is no doubt of my being
God personified, I am the Christ." The list goes on.

3. Incorporate Hinduism into seemingly non-religious courses, such as
est (Erhard Seminar Trainings), now called The Forum. Similar groups
are Lifespring, Assertiveness Training, Personal Growth Seminars etc.

Unsuspecting people now swarm to absorb Hinduism in its various
disguises, signing up and paying for "assertiveness" courses, taking
Yoga, and tuning out stress with meditation. To understand all of this,
we need to look at the "grand-daddy" of all the Hindu deception,
Transcendental Meditation.



TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION (T.M.)

Transcendental Meditation began with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who
originated the movement in 1958, and moved to the U.S.A. in 1961. He
claims to follow his departed leader (master, god) the Guru Dev. Guru
Dev's picture adorns TM altars.



DECEPTIVE RECRUITING TECHNIQUES

TM and its successors are always presented as a "technique" and never
as a religion. Christians and non- Christians alike are encouraged to
practice a form of meditation as a relief from stress, to lower blood
pressure, improve mental health, and even improve their sex life. "IT'S
NOT A RELIGION" they are repeatedly told, it's a TECHNIQUE that won't
interfere with your own beliefs or lack of beliefs, your lifestyle, or
your job. It's so beneficial, just a few minutes a day repeating a
"mantra" will enable you to "transcend" all your troubles, and you will
have peace, joy, good health, etc. Sounds good, so why not?



THE RITUAL OF INITIATION INTO TM

The person is convinced, and finds himself at the ritual of initiation,
which he must go through before he receives his promised "mantra". He
is taught how to participate, but can't understand a word that's being
said as it's all in a foreign language. The English translation is
never given, even if the initiate asks. We have an English translation
available if you write and request it. The initiate notices an altar
with a picture of a Guru on it. The ceremony begins. There are three
phases to the ceremony.



1. RECITATION OF NAMES

These are the names of "the apostolic succession through which the holy
knowledge of the TM mantras has been passed." All names are considered
to be gods and worthy of worship. There are over 20 Hindu gods to
acknowledge in this ceremony, and here are some of the attributes given
to them. Reverently, and worshipfully, they are called variously,
"Redeemer", "Emancipator of the world", "Supreme Teacher full of
brilliance", "the Pure", "Adorned with immeasurable glory", etc. etc.
These are sufficient to show that titles that should be used for the
One God of the Bible are used instead for Hindu gods. The initiate,
however, is blissfully unaware of this, since he doesn't understand the
language.



2. OFFERINGS IN THE TM CEREMONY

There are seventeen different items offered in turn. Here the initiate
puts three of these objects (a handkerchief, flowers, and fruit) on the
altar at the proper time--an offering to the Hindu gods just named, as
personified by the guru pictured. One would expect that some Sunday
School lesson might come into the initiate's mind about idolatry and
offerings to idols, but few make the connection at this point.



3. HYMN OF PRAISE AND ADORATION

This hymn is offered to Guru Dev in his status as deity, as recognized
by classical Hinduism, (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, with Shiva being
evil).

The initiate is then invited to follow in his teacher's example and bow
down before the Guru Dev. This is a bit much for some initiates who
were told it wasn't a religion, so if they hesitate, they are not
forced to bow. The offerings must be made, however. Now the initiate
prepares to receive his secret "mantra".



WHAT IS THE "MANTRA"?

The mantra is a word or series of words that the initiate must repeat
over and over again until he really "enters in" and "transcends" into a
trance-like state. His teacher stays with him until he is sure this
stage is reached. Eventually, the sound of the mantra and his thoughts
cease, and the initiate "transcends" into a new dimension, ready for
new "spiritual experiences".

What an initiate does not know, is this mantra that he is repeating
over and over again, is really the name of one of the millions of gods
of Hinduism. As the initiate takes up this practice, he will, in time,
be visited by a "spirit-guide", often bearing the name he has been
calling. As he is now proficient at making his mind blank and empty,
the spirit-guide urges him to yield to his influence. What began in
bliss may end up in a nightmare of demon-possession, mind control and
torment.



LINK-UP WITH DRUGS AND MEDITATION

It is an interesting fact that those practicing Eastern Meditation
often meet the same spirit-guides as those who do no meditation, but
take mind-altering drugs. This is no surprise to Bible students, for
they recognize these spirit-guides for what they are--manifestations of
demons.

The whole TM ceremony can be summed up in one Biblical term, Idolatry.
(Leviticus 26:1) Do not be deceived, TM is a religion and not just a
technique.



IS ALL MEDITATION TO BE AVOIDED

While Eastern-type meditation involving mantras is to be avoided, true
Bible-type meditation is to be encouraged.

According to scripture, the true meditation done God's way, results in
our being taught of God, and filled with gladness, joy and peace. There
are several identifying marks of mediation that is pleasing to God.



OUR MEDITATION MUST BE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD



"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable
in Thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalms 19:14).



WE NEED THE WORD OF GOD IN OUR HEARTS

BEFORE WE CAN MEDITATE

"I will meditate on Thy precepts, and regard Thy ways. I shall delight
in Thy statutes; I shall not forget Thy Word." (Psalms 119:15,16).



MEDITATION IS THE TIME TO REVIEW

WHAT OUR MINDS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT

"This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall
meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do
according to all that is written in it, for then you will make your way
prosperous, and then you will have success." (Joshua 1:8).

If Bible meditation sounds nothing like TM, you are right. Bible
meditation is a filling of the mind with the things of God.
Transcendental meditation is an emptying of the mind, allowing for
control by "spirit-guides". TM may offer some relief from anxiety, but
it is a temporary "escape", much like taking an aspirin every day for a
headache, which is in reality caused by a brain tumor. The root cause
of the problem is not dealt with. So too, TM treats the symptoms of the
human problem with "band-aid" solutions, but never deals with the root
cause, namely sin and separation from God.

TM practicers do have a measure of peace while meditating, but it is
not the peace of God. Jesus Christ said in John 14:27,

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world
gives, do I give to you."

The Bible plainly speaks in 1 Timothy 2:5,

"For there is ONE GOD, and ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the Man
CHRIST JESUS, who gave Himself a ransom for all."

You cannot "meditate" your way into a relationship with God, but you
must approach God HIS way, through belief and acceptance of Jesus
Christ.

Why settle for counterfeit, temporary, peace, when you can have the
real peace of God. Write to us if we can help you further.