The effect of Transcendental Meditation on mindfulness

The present study examined the relationship between Transcendental Meditation (TM) and mindfulness, as measured by the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness (KIMS). A wait-list control group was compared to a TM treatment group on overall scores and intercorrelations of the KIMS subscales. The results indicated a significant time x treatment interaction (p < .001); the TM group alone demonstrated significant gains from pre-testing to post-testing. The intercorrelations did not differ across testing session or group. Pre-treatment scores were also compared to scores of a sample of non-meditators. The present sample as a whole scored significantly higher (p < .001). The correlation between the Observe subscale and the Accept without Judgment subscale was also significantly higher (p < .001). These results suggest that the practice of TM increases mindfulness, that those who are drawn to TM may be more inherently mindful, and that the facet structure of mindfulness varies for meditators.