kvnblair:

As part of personal instruction in the TM technique each student receives a suitable mantra or sound which has been selected by their TM teacher as a sound that is harmonious and appropriate for that individual. There is a designated set of mantras that each TM teacher uses to select the appropriate sound for their students. So it is entirely possible that some TM students could have the same mantra as others. It is important to note that TM mantras are specialized sounds that have no menaing. They are the delicate vehicle on which the mind glides to deeper, more subtle levels of thinking. For maximum effectiveness TM students are encouraged to refrain from speaking or writing down their mantra as this has the effect of damaging and dulling this highly delicate and refined meditation tool.
The TM technique is an effortless mental procedure whereby an individual experiences increasingly quieter levels of thinking and then the source of thought, deep within the mind. The first step in this process is to allow the mind to be alert but undirected at the same time. To accomplish this TM utilizes a thought or mantra that has a sound quality but has no assigned meaning. For example the word ‘flower’ has two aspects: the sound value and the English meaning.