Meditation Tips

See also -


Getting Started in Meditation


Breathing Meditation




Here's some things I find useful - in no particular order...

1) don't try and do too much at once. 5 mins a day is plenty for your first few go's. Of course if you feel like you want to do more go ahead!

2) During meditation you may experience a mind that seems louder than you thought it was. This is ok, it's normal and it will pass with practice.

Practice is the key. When a thought arises, and you notice it has arisen move your focus onto your breath or on to the rising and falling of your belly. It may get frustrating at times, but even if you have to do it a millions times over it's all practice and it's perfectly normal. It's what meditation is - mind training. Mind excercise.

Thoughts appear and thoughts go away, like waves in an ocean. Let your thoughts ebb and flow without getting caught up in them or angry at the fact they're there and gradually you'll have a meditation where you felt no grasping at these thoughts at all.

I dream of that day!! :)

3) Try and get a routine. It helps to have a place especially set up for meditating. It's all about creating the conditions conducive to switching your brain into meditation mode. Like putting on a suit and going to an office - it's conducive to setting your brain to working mode. The more you use that meditation space the more it will take on that role.

5mins in the morning before breakfast (if poss') and then 5mins before bed is a great starting point. They are two points in the day that are generally fixed.

4) Mindfulness Bells. There is a buddhist teacher, an amazing teacher, called Thich Nhat Hanh. He taught me about mindfulness bells. Normally it would be an actual bell, but in day to day life I like to pick a 'thing' that I can use as a mindfulness bell - normally it's when ever I see someone smile. If you wear any jewellery or have a favourite wild plant you could use that as a mindfulness bell. Whenever one of those things catches your eye just take a moment. Focus on your breath or the rising and falling of your belly, just for 3 breaths. No more, just 3 breaths. Then continue with your day.

5) Meditating with others. This is really helpful. It is possible that you might be able to find a christian or other religion/nonreligion based meditation group. It is important that you have your own meditation routine at home though.

6) Do be physically comfortable when you meditate. If during meditation you feel uncomfortable adjust your position. You'll soon get comfy.




Any other tips to add?