I discovered a form of transcending meditation by accident while napping between classes in college. I would later learn that the naivety of not even trying to meditate combined with a proper setting created a gateway to a different state of consciousness. When I went to the Maharishi University of Management (MUM) and learned Transcendental Meditation (TM) ™ I learned they called this state transcendental consciousness. Found it difficult at first to use a mantra and their indirect way of describing the method confused me. I ended up overthinking it all and gave myself chronic headaches. This was not the same with everyone, though, some got the technique quickly and with ease. Eventually I made my way back to what I had originally stumbled upon during my naps in college, but this time I understood why it was happening.
Universal Meditation, much like TM and The Relaxation Response, function because of innate mechanics of thought that trigger when one lets go of outward concerns and the ego for a short period with their eyes closed. It is a very simple and, therefore, fundamental mechanic that allows for access to a 4th state of consciousness.
This method is intentionally kept basic, only describing the fundamental thought mechanics that allow for a transition into the 4th state of consciousness. It is because of this that Open Mind Meditation serves as a foundation to any other method that operates within the 4th state. This could mean you are using mantras, sutras, visualization, intention, astral projection, black magic… anything you want. I believe what you do with the 4th state should be decided by you and not dictated by a specific meditation technique claiming to be the best. It only matters to me that you know how to get there.
I also don’t believe it should cost money to explain how to access the 4th state. It would be like paying someone to learn how to sleep, which our bodies are naturally designed to do anyway. The 4th state is a little different in the sense that modern societies somehow forgot about it somewhere along the way. Perhaps it was the incredible distractions of mass industrialization and technology or perhaps something more nefarious, but because of this, teaching people how to meditate is more like helping them remember a part of themselves.