Science of Being and Art of Living: Transcendental Meditation Paperback – November 1, 2001

I came away from this book with a much better understanding of Hinduism, TM, and life in general. At times it does read a little bit like an infomercial for TM. But you don't need to pay a small fortune for a, "secret" word to use as a mantra. You can learn the process on your own with the information out there. If you have money to burn I am sure an official course in TM would be quite beneficial though. Anyhow a very readable book which gave me a better understanding of Hinduism, TM, and life in general.

Maharishi outlines his philosophy for living a productive and fulfilling life based on the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique. Learning the technique requires personal instruction - it cannot be learned through a book, despite the misguided, self-serving claims of some. Those who read the book hoping to learn the TM technique will be disappointed. However, if you want to understand the fundamental nature of the TM practice and how it can benefit anyone, this book will help.In his book Maharishi makes an excellent case for how regular practice of the TM technique allows individuals the realize their full potential, making everything they do better and more fulfilling. For anyone who has learned the TM technique this is an excellent way to improve your understanding of the benefits of TM and how important it is. Maharishi analyzes all aspects of life, explaining how the practice of the simple, effortless TM technique can improve all areas of life and all actions of the individual. He shows the fundamental nature of the TM technique and explains how that affects everything in life.Well organized and well thought out, TM practitioners will enjoy reading Maharishi's book. Recommended for anyone who has learned the TM technique, and for those interested in learning the technique. But don't expect instruction in the TM technique. It can only be learned from a qualified teacher through personal instruction.

I've been meditating for 8 years and am only JUST reading this book now. I can only read small doses, 10-15 pages because the material is very dense and I've been reading it just prior to my morning meditation. It puts me in a good space going in. The book really explains what we're doing in meditation and what the processes are that are taking place and it's very inspiring because your "furthering" you're own agendas; personal, professional and spiritual. This knowledge is not "essential" to getting the benefits, the same way understanding how digestion works is not essential to the absorption of nutrients but, if you have that knowledge in increases your awareness of WHY you meditate so that even if you don't "feel like it", you're inspired to do it anyway. This isn't a problem I have but I've heard some people practiced and then just stopped. That seems very strange to me, I can't imagine ever stopping.The information has also lead me to question alot of things about my meditation, things that I hope to get answered the next time I get "checked". I don't know if the conversation on BEING, which is essential for all the remaining chapters, will be accessible to non meditaters. I'm not being “elitest”, I just know that I struggled with it initially and Being, as I understand it, is only really accessible in the state of transcendence OR if you've been meditating sufficiently that your consciousness has been infused with the state of being (I'm not there). I would question if someone not familiar with TM could grasp BEING in a meaningful way. I could definitely be wrong.3YEAR UPDATE: So I’ve met people who are not Transcendental Meditation practioners, but who follow other spiritual practices and I suspect, on some level and to some degree, the idea at least of BEING is not solely the province of TM meditators. Silly me.

Ive bought this book some years ago, when i had a steady job and got paid trough a bank account, ive bought many books that i didnt had a chance to read until now that i have more free time.THis is the book im reading now and i find it really inspirational, i used to have preconsived ideas about this kind of stuff and never really took it seriusly, but now i can really relate to all it reads here.I remember i bought this book because david lynch talked about how he now practice the trascendental meditation, he said that before this it was hard to feel inspired without mariguana, now he is all about meditation.Im really enjoying it, and although its a bit techinical its great to read.

BOOK WAS NEW AND WAS SENT QUICKLY

I’m a TM practitioner and yet I had not yet read this book until now. As a result of my experience with TM I found myself simply agreeing with the book as I was reading it. I recommend this book and I definitely recommend practicing TM.

This seams like a sales book telling "what" TM is, but not "how". The book drives you to make contact with the organization where you will get the proper guarded instructions. I am still going through it an hope to find something useful.

Amazing book by one of the great men of history on consciousness