The American TV host and actor, Oprah Winfrey, is a devoted practitioner of Transcendental Meditation (TM), the meditation technique developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi with millions of followers around the world. This kind of meditation employs a mantra to reduce stress and create a joyful state of mind. Many other celebrities such as Ellen Degeneres and David Lynch vouch for TM.
Oprah says meditation changed her life and she strives to be more mindful everyday. She sits in meditation twice a day for around 20 minutes, being still in body and mind. She quotes Ekhart Tolle in saying – “Stillness is your essential nature. When you lose touch with inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself, when you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world.” Oprah emphasises the need for meditation to become a consistent practice in one’s daily life in order to derive maximum benefit. “Usually before the sun comes up, I offer myself to something greater than myself”, she says. Oprah lives more mindfully now being fully present at all times. She listens to her inner voice of awareness, being truly alive.
“Meditate. Breathe consciously. Listen. Pay attention. Treasure every moment. Make the connection.”
– Oprah Winfrey
Deepak Chopra, In this interview with Oprah, says “Meditation opens the door to your spirit, to infinite possibility, and creativity.” Meditation also opens up the divine qualities within a being such as kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity and profound peace. Oprah has collaborated with Deepak Chopra in “Oprah & Deepak 21-Day Meditation Experience” amongst other programs such as “Manifesting Grace through Gratitude”, which delves into gratitude, transcending emotions and “finding our flow”.
Oprah is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast from Chicago, which was the highest-rated television program of its kind in history running for 25 years. She has also been ranked the greatest black philanthropist in American history and is one of the most influential women in the world.
This article is part of a series on meditation. Read more about The Journey of David Lynch in meditation. Also harmonising your life and managing emotions through meditation.