On Vedic Meditation
Christine Fieldhouse tells us how the ancient practice of Vedic Meditation can dramatically change lives
Vedic Meditation may have been around for at least 5,000 years but it’s as useful in our lives now as it has ever been.
Going back millennia, the people who lived in the Indus Valley, now known as India and Pakistan, practised meditation as a fundamental part of daily life. And though there are some written records, the practice has been passed down verbally from generation to generation.
Now, as we search for an antidote to our tech-laden, far-too-busy lives, Vedic Meditation is becoming more popular, not only for its effectiveness, but also for its simplicity and ease. You don’t need candles, essential oils, peace and quiet, or even a cross-legged position – you need just the ability to think.
And those who meditate regularly, like US filmmaker David Lynch, credits Vedic Meditation with a less cluttered mind and even success.
But what is this type of meditation and how do we practise it?
While some practices work with your breathing or with you focusing on an object such as a candles or a vase of flowers, Vedic Meditation works with a mantra. This is a simple, meaningless sound given to you by an accredited teacher. It’s a vibration that resonates with you and the stage of life you’re at. You sit still with your back supported, close your eyes and think the mantra. Two sessions of 20 minutes a day are recommended when you start out.
Other thoughts come and go. But your mind finds the mantra so attractive and charming, it chooses to return to thinking it as soon as it can. As the vibration settles the mind, it leads it away from the outer world on an inward dive. Thanks to the mantra, your mind will drop to its more subtle layers where it experiences an inner state of blissfulness. All thoughts and activity stop, and you may reach your quietest point. Of course, this won’t happen every time you meditate – the key is to not try too hard and just go with the mantra.
Jillian Lavender, who co-founded London Meditation Centre and New York Meditation Center, with her partner Michael Miller, learned to meditate in 1993 when she was living in Sydney, Australia. A self-confessed worrier, Jillian is proof of the benefits of Vedic Meditation.
‘It’s for people who are enjoying success in certain areas and yet they have a sense there’s something more,’ explains Jillian, author of the book, Why Meditate? Because It Works (Yellow Kite). ‘Or they see parts of their lives, such as their health, eating habits or sleep, that are unstable.
‘Some might be achievers, but they don’t feel peaceful or happy, while others might have anxiety, resentment or deep sadness. Some people feel a lack of purpose. Vedic Meditation can help all of them.’
Not only does Vedic Meditation lower stress, improve health, clear our mind, and enhance creativity, it also makes us happier, helps us sleep better, slows the ageing process and creates more peace in the world. Sounds like a win-win to us.
EXPLORE VEDIC MEDITATION RETREATS
Whether you’re looking to learn a new practice, or just find some peace and calm in your life, London Meditation Centre and New York Meditation Centre offer non-residential beginners’ courses that run over four consecutive days. Once you can meditate, they also offer residential retreats.