Transcendental Meditation, as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, produces a distinct state of consciousness called Transcendental Consciousness, which is described as awareness without thoughts or perceptions, a state of pure wakefulness. During meditation, the mind moves beyond the subtlest thoughts, leading to deep physiological rest. This practice, rooted in Eastern traditions for over 2,500 years, has recently gained interest in the West for its potential benefits.
Depersonalization is a dissociative disorder marked by persistent feelings of detachment from one's own mind or body, as if observing oneself from outside. It frequently occurs alongside derealization, where the external world feels strange or unreal. The text defines these conditions based on the DSM-IV-TR classification.
Psychosis involves a disturbed perception of reality, including hallucinations, delusions, or disorganized thoughts. Hallucinogen-induced psychotic states, often called 'trips' by recreational users, can involve agitation, aggression, and behavioral impairment. These trips typically include existential experiences, perceptual distortions, and synesthesias, where senses blend together.
Transpersonal psychology emerged in the United States during the 1960s, a period of psychedelic experimentation and rediscovery of mysticism from Eastern and indigenous traditions. It grew from discontent among humanistic psychologists who questioned the limitations of a solely human-based psychology that paid scant attention to consciousness and spirituality. Although it had earlier roots, its formal birth is linked to the debut of the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology. The lead article in its first issue was written by Abraham Maslow, who had played a key role in developing humanistic psychology and then refocused on a psychology centered on human connections to the cosmos. Other notable founding figures include Stanislav Grof and Charles Tart.