TM is a brilliant meditation technique, but organisation is business.
I've been introduced to it as a 12 year old (I'm 22 now), but stopped practicing after few weeks. Didn't find it so special at the time, either because I was too yong and inexperienced or because the way I was back then - much more peaceful than most kids. Since then, I've only done it several times. But I'm intending to make it my every-day experience.
This is my most recent experience ith TM. A few months ago, all of a sudden I felt the urge to do it. And I did for about a week. Each day 10 to 15 minutes. It felt natural - no forcing myself, no intention to do it, just a need to do so. Benefits were immediate. A first few days effects of TM wore off in a matter of hours, but after that I was in a "state" for almost whole day. What I refer to as a "state" here, is a blissful tranquility - no anxiety, no fear, no worries... peaceful, yet focused. My every-day obligations were presenting no problem to me, environment in general was no longer influencing me in a negative way. In short, it felt great. Then, just as sudden as I started, I stopped. Effects ligered for a few more days and then started dissipating until it came back to "normal". I guess i stopped because I felt excellent and din't think I need it anymore, plus I'm lazy. That is why I want to start again. I want to feel like that and be lke that again.
I've tried many meditation techniques (ancient and modern ones) but TM is the best so far. It's simple and effective. Requires no effort of any kind. Not even effort of thought. No need to believe in anything. Just experience.
About dangeours of TM: There are none! TM is not dangerous and it cannot make you crazy. The worst thing that can happen to you is to feel discomfort when abruptly going from meditative state to "reality". The difference between the two can be huge and sudden change may cause discomfort (just like someone waking you up from a deep sleep).
Since TM organization is business, it has tried to scientifically prove TM. They did a great deal of experiments, which are available to public. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi does know what he's talking about.
Final goal of real meditation should be enlightment. All other "side-effects" which improve your life are just natural response of your body and mind. TM is adapted to western/modern world. But it doesn't lose it's power because of it. Modern meditations (created by numerous authors of western world) are based on real ones, and they deal with only fragments of our modern lives. Meditation for depresion, meditation for success, meditation for relationship improving... list goes on and on. They do work, but why approach your life fragmentary when you can do it all, and much more, at once?!
I can tell you for sure that TM is no sect. People call a sect everything that sounds strange to them, or too good to be true. The truth is that most people just can't believe that they are the masters of their lives. As long as you say to them you've got something that will improve their lives, they will want to see/get/buy it. But, if you say that you know a way they can improve their lives greatly (by themselves), they'll get suspicious and call it this and that. Sadly, for most people, it is much easier to believe in something else than in themselves.
