How do I get started with meditation as a beginner?

What Gurudev says

You know the feeling: you finally want to start meditating, but you don't know where to even begin — just close your eyes and hope something happens? Gurudev makes clear: meditation doesn't start in a vacuum, it starts in your completely ordinary everyday life.

You see, some physical activity is needed to balance your inner silence. Moderate food, moderate activity, moderate rest — these three bring peace and union with existence. That is meditation. You see this?

From a talk on the Ashtavakra Gita — "Dissolving the Doer", 00:08:26

For the first practical step, Gurudev gives simple advice: you don't have to start alone.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I have made a number of meditation CDs. You could use these CDs for a couple of days or weeks to begin with, and get into the habit of meditation. Once you get into practicing it regularly, you won't need a CD, you will be able to do it by yourself. All you need is a little bit of practice of meditating, of letting go. It is all about letting go.

From the official Art of Living website — "An Insight Into The Science Of Yoga" (Apr 18 2013)

And how much time do you need for that at the start? Less than you might think.

If you sit for five or ten minutes, morning or evening, keeping the mind calm, our body becomes healthy, our behavior becomes sweet, our mind becomes pleasant, intellect becomes sharp and whatever wishes we have naturally get manifested.

From the official Art of Living website — "We need to wipe out ignorance" (Mar 6 2012)

For Gurudev, getting started really isn't a big deal: a balanced everyday life as the foundation, guidance as a starting help, and just a few minutes a day as practice — that's all it takes to begin.

What you can do

1. Bring balance into your everyday life. Eat moderately, move moderately, rest moderately. That balance brings the inner calm meditation needs.
2. Use a guided meditation at the start. You don't have to figure out what to do all on your own — guidance helps you build the habit until you can do it yourself.
3. Start with just a few minutes. Five to ten minutes, morning or evening, is completely enough to begin with.
4. Practice letting go, not perfection. It's not about doing something "right" — it's about getting a little practice in letting go.

Frequently asked questions

What is meditation, really? Gurudev clearly distinguishes meditation from concentration: for him, it's a deep relaxation that has already happened to all of us many times without us noticing — for instance in moments of real happiness. He also describes it as a fourth state beyond waking, sleeping and dreaming, and as a higher form of prayer: in prayer you speak, in meditation you listen.

How do I overcome self-doubt? Self-doubt, Gurudev says, isn't resolved through arguments, listening or thinking it through, but only when your inner life energy rises — a low energy level is what produces the doubting, sluggish state of mind. Someone who considers themselves inadequate, he adds, is also reaching a wrong conclusion: you've managed everything that's come your way so far, so affirm to yourself that you can fulfill every role well.

How long does it take for meditation to work? Don't blame yourself if it takes longer, Gurudev says: your present nature isn't a personal failing, but something that gradually shifts through daily practice, food, environment and company. The impatient question "why isn't anything happening yet" is, for him, already an obstacle in itself. His image: mangoes don't grow overnight the way faster-sprouting lentils do — everything in life ripens at its own pace.

How often do I need to meditate for something to change in my life? When a practice doesn't produce results right away, Gurudev says many people fall into one of two traps: declaring the method useless, or deciding they themselves aren't suited for it. Both lead you astray. What matters instead is uninterrupted daily repetition — just a few minutes, but every day, is what really establishes a practice in you.

Related questions

• What do I do when my mind keeps wandering during meditation?
• How do I build a daily meditation routine?
• What does meditation really do for you in the long run?
• How do I meditate correctly?
• How long should I meditate every day?
• Meditation & Breathing Techniques — overview

Sources

The quotes on this page come from:

• Ashtavakra Gita — "Dissolving the Doer" (AG 15), 00:08:26–00:08:46
• Official Art of Living website — "An Insight Into The Science Of Yoga" (Apr 18 2013)
• Official Art of Living website — "We need to wipe out ignorance" (Mar 6 2012)