How Transcendental Meditation Aligns with the Values of India’s Constitution
India’s Constitution, which provides the guidelines for steering the largest democracy in the world through our collective trails and tribulations, stands as a beacon of democracy, equality, and social justice for our diverse nation, with its many lands, peoples and cultures.
With our 76th Republic Day approaching, we commemorate its adoption for the development, progress and sustenance of more than 1.4 billion Indians, and reflect on the connection between the evolution of Indian society in the modern age, founded on eternal, Vedic principles which have paved the path for humanity’s highest good since millennia.
Transcendental Meditation (TM), as introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, offers a unique way to embody and enhance these constitutional values. Drawing insights from Maharishi’s book ‘Constitution of India Fulfilled Through Transcendental Meditation’, we explore how this practice can contribute to national consciousness and social harmony.
The Essence of India’s Constitution
The Constitution of India is a visionary document rooted in the principles of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. It aims to ensure dignity and promote unity in diversity.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s perspective was consonant with these lofty ideals, and reveals that these values can thrive only when individuals and communities develop a state of mind that is unshakeably rooted in peace, bliss and the subjective experience of the never changing Self.
Transcendental Meditation: A Tool for Developing National Consciousness
Transcendental Meditation lays a lasting foundation for societal progress by removing stress and gathering peace within the individual, the first unit of society. It also fosters respect and mindfulness towards the fundamental duties along with awareness of the fundamental rights.
Such aware and peaceful individuals can then collectively contribute to spreading the peace in the environment and create an invisible armor of invincibility around the country, whose mechanics are revealed in Yogic texts and have been researched in modern times by sociology researchers.
Maharishi’s book emphasizes that collective meditation can lead to “a more harmonious and progressive society” (Chapter 3, p. 45).
How Transcendental Meditation Promotes Constitutional Values
The practice of Transcendental Meditation provides mental, emotional and behavioral benefits which lead to the natural development of moral values that are enshrined in our Constitution, since they are the natural consequence of the experience of higher states of consciousness, the intended goal of TM.
Justice and Equality: TM enhances clarity of mind, enabling individuals to make fair and unbiased decisions. Maharishi explains, “When the mind is clear, actions are naturally aligned with dharma, ensuring justice and equality” (Chapter 5, p. 78).
Liberty: By reducing mental and emotional stress, TM fosters true freedom of thought and expression, echoing the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution (Chapter 4, p. 63).
Fraternity: Regular practice of TM promotes empathy and understanding, essential for nurturing fraternity and peaceful coexistence (Chapter 6, p. 92).
Unity in Diversity through Group Practice
India’s strength lies in its diversity, and TM can play a pivotal role in uniting this vast cultural mosaic. Maharishi highlights that group meditation has a ripple effect, reducing societal stress and fostering harmony: “The collective consciousness of a group influences its environment, promoting unity in diversity” (Chapter 7, p. 110).
TM is a non-denominational technique which enhances cognitive processing and emotional intelligence, making the practitioner empathetic, compassionate, more friendly and tolerant. This leads to exhibiting behaviour which is harmonious and promotes integration over exclusiveness, the latter being a sign of stressed mental function.
TM for Social Harmony and National Integration
Stress-Free Living in India: High stress levels can exacerbate divisions. TM helps mitigate this by promoting a balanced, stress-free mindset.
Non-Violence and Meditation: India's principle of non-violence aligns with TM’s peaceful approach. Maharishi notes, “True non-violence arises when individuals experience inner peace” (Chapter 2, p. 34).
Promoting Cultural Heritage: TM connects individuals to India’s rich spiritual traditions, fostering mindfulness and respect for diverse cultures.
Republic Day and National Growth
Republic Day celebrates the power of collective will to enliven and put into practice the ideals of our Constitution. Incorporating TM into daily life can amplify this collective strength. Maharishi states, “The nation’s consciousness is the sum of its individuals. By uplifting individual consciousness, TM transforms the national character” (Chapter 8, p. 123).
The Role of TM in Indian Democracy
Democracy flourishes when citizens are mindful, empathetic, and harmonious. TM nurtures these traits, enabling people to participate in democratic processes with greater awareness and integrity.
Doyen of Indian Judiciary, Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer on TM and Social Reformation
The late Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, a stalwart of Indian judiciary and social reform, recognized the transformative potential of Transcendental Meditation in addressing societal issues. He viewed TM as a practical tool for cultivating inner harmony, which in turn fosters social justice and equity. Justice Iyer believed that "a stress-free and conscious individual is the foundation of a fair and equitable society."
His endorsement and liberal prescription of TM for the reformation of convicts, who essentially resort to crime because of being stressed, underscores its relevance in achieving the social reformation envisioned in India’s Constitution.
In Summary
Transcendental Meditation aligns beautifully with the values of India’s Constitution. By fostering clarity, unity, and inner peace, it supports justice, liberty, and fraternity. As we celebrate Republic Day, TM, drawing from India’s venerable Vedic tradition, can be a powerful tool to help us fulfill the vision of our Constitution and build a harmonious, integrated society.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can Transcendental Meditation contribute to national growth?
Transcendental Meditation reduces stress, enhances creativity, and promotes empathy, creating mindful citizens, equally aware of their duties along with the their fundamental rights. When practiced collectively, it fosters societal harmony and uplifts national consciousness.
More than 40 years of research conducted in cities and countries across the world has proven that the collective practice of TM has aided in reducing war, conflict, disease, economic inequality and other such unfortunate national scale incidences and promoted peace, harmony and progress in all avenues of national life.
2. Is TM aligned with India’s cultural heritage?
Yes, TM draws from India’s ancient Vedic traditions, emphasizing the development of the most fundamental state of life, pure consciousness, which in turn develops all avenues of life.
3. Can TM improve social harmony in a diverse country like India?
TM helps individuals transcend personal biases, promoting unity and mutual respect, essential for maintaining harmony in India’s multicultural society.
