TM and Guided meditation
TM isn't guided -- a teacher explains the technique, but once the student closes their eyes, transcending to the inner Self is their own experience. Because TM is so different from guided meditation, a person can practice both, just not at the same time.
Is Transcendental Meditation guided?
When a person learns Transcendental Meditation (TM), the TM teacher shows them how to meditate in a step-by-step process. The TM teacher doesn’t control what a person is thinking. What happens once a person closes their eyes and starts doing TM is their own personal experience and is not guided.
How TM instruction works?
There are no instructions given to the student by the TM teacher when the students eyes are closed. The technique is explained and then the student is allowed to close their eyes and meditate. Practicing TM is a deeply personal inner experience of one's own Self.
TM gives the experience of the Self, also known as Being
TM allows for effortless transcending. This means taking the awareness deep within and transcending one's thoughts and reaching the silent source of thought deep within the mind. This silent source of thought is one’s Self, or Being.
Can a person practice TM and guided meditation, both?
Transcendental Meditation differs so greatly from guided meditation that a person might do both TM and guided meditation, only not at the same time. A person also might have a meditation guide in addition to their TM practice, though the meditation guide wouldn’t be necessary while practicing TM. TM is practiced for about 20 minutes morning and evening sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. During this time, the mind dives within, and nothing external can aid in this process.