Vedic meditation is the oldest meditation technique in the world today and originates from the Vedic civilisation in northern India between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago. This advanced Vedic culture was responsible for bringing mathematics, yoga, the language of Sanskrit and the knowledge of Ayurveda to the world. It’s thought most of the Vedic knowledge was lost 3,000 years ago, due to other invading civilisations, however the ancient Rishis or Sages devised the monastic system to preserve the knowledge and powerful techniques. They set up communities high up in the Himalayas and deep in the jungles of India, so the knowledge could be passed on in its purity without external interference.

In 1947, India regained its independence from the British Empire and the knowledge started to branch out across the country. A little while before, a Rishi called Swami Brahmananda Saraswati or Guru Dev (pictured below) was told by his guru that he’d stayed a long time in the mountains and jungles and it was time to move closer to the towns so the people can start to benefit from his knowledge. In 1941, he became so well known for his spiritual radiance and knowledge that he was nominated to become the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math on 1st April 1941, the most prestigious and powerful position in Indian society.

In May 1953, Guru Dev passed away and left instructions to his close followers. In 1959, one of his followers, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi moved to America and continued passing Guru Dev’s knowledge and techniques around the world. The Vedic Meditation technique he was teaching was later set up as a brand called Transcendental Meditation (TM). Maharishi Mahesh Yogi went on to become a teacher of teachers, so the knowledge could be spread out further. He went on to teach celebrities such as The Beatles and The Beach Boys, and went on to encourage the scientific studies of meditation. My teacher was Charlie Knoles who was taught by his father, Thom Knoles who was taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Now I have the pleasure of passing this technique and knowledge on to my students, I teach my students a simple technique that will improve their lives in profound ways.