Vedic Meditation is a simple technique to rest the mind and body and come back into balance.

The technique is practiced by sitting comfortably with the eyes closed and the back supported. You silently think to yourself a simple sound that we call a mantra. The mantra is a sound that’s chosen for you by the teacher, and it has a very interesting effect on the mind.

As you think the mantra it orients the mind to quieter layers of thinking. The mantra is like a vehicle that the mind hops onto, and automatically the mind moves with the mantra to finer and finer layers of thinking. A point comes when the mantra disappears and the mind falls quiet. This is a state of pure inner contentedness for the mind. The mind is alert however there are no thoughts going on.

When the mind settles down, the body rests

The mind and body are like parallel universes – anything that happens in the mental universe will leave tracks in the physical one. In Vedic Meditation thinking becomes quieter leading to an increasingly settled mind. More quiet thinking has a direct and positive effect on the body.

Within a few minutes the meditator’s physiology is resting deeper than sleep. This unprecedented rest allows the nervous system to purify and normalize.

After about 20 minutes you slowly come out of the meditation. You feel more mentally clear, emotionally balanced and physically rested. We typically practice Vedic Meditation twice each day – before breakfast and before dinner.

Easy and effortless

The whole process is easy and straightforward. You don’t have to change your lifestyle. There’s no chanting, no beads, no background music and no internet connection required. You can meditate on a train, on the sofa or at the office – anywhere you can safely sit and close the eyes.

This is a technique for everyone. You don’t have to sit around for hours every day or withdraw to a forest retreat for a week. In fact, the opposite: by taking a few minutes for a daily reset you engage in life with more energy and clarity.

Origins of Vedic Meditation

Vedic Meditation comes from an ancient body of knowledge called The Veda that is many thousands of years old. This knowledge base comes from India however it is not a philosophy. It’s not faith-based and you don’t need to change anything to practice the technique.

Despite being one of the oldest types of meditation, Vedic Meditation is practiced by millions of people from all walks of life.

Not all meditation techniques are the same

These are fortunate times – there are many styles of meditation available today.

For some, meditation means listening to someone guide them through an experience via an app on their phone. It could be that sitting or moving in nature is a form of meditation. For someone else it means trying to concentrate their mind on a specific image or focus on their breathing. Meditation can be a form of prayer or devotion, while for others it may be a process of observing their thoughts in an attempt to be more present.

Whatever the style, more people are realizing that the ability to sit still, to be at peace and at one with the world, is becoming increasingly urgent.

Different styles of meditation have different effects

The common goal of meditation is to arrive at a state of inner mental quiet. However different meditation techniques are approached and practiced differently. As a result they produce diverse effects on the mind and body.

What’s different about Vedic Meditation?

Vedic Meditation is different to other styles in two important ways.

Firstly, it is natural and easy. Unlike many other styles of meditation there is no focussing or concentrating. Rather than fighting the thoughts in your mind, meditation works best when we work with the mind. Then the process is easy and it feels good.

Secondly, Vedic Meditation delivers unprecedented rest and brain coherence within minutes. As a result, changes and improvements happen quickly.

Vedic Meditation is known as an automatic self-transcending style. This might seem like a bit of a mouthful so let’s break it down:

• Automatic means it happens spontaneously, without any effort on the part of the meditator. Straining and focusing will only get in the way of a smooth and effective experience.
• Self-transcending indicates a process of moving beyond. What are we moving beyond in meditation? We move beyond thoughts to arrive at the source of thinking, a baseline state of inner quiet. This is your deepest most settled state of Being.

Vedic Meditation is an ancient technique that works in our modern world. It is a moment to settle your mind and body, grounding yourself in a stable baseline. And then to emerge, ready for life in a different way – clearer, calmer and more awake.

Vedic Meditation is taught in person over four consecutive days at New York Meditation Center and London Meditation Centre

Find out more:  New York  | London