Explore how deep meditation can enhance your inner peace. Discover practical techniques to cultivate mindfulness and well-being. Read more!
Ask a child if they want a piece of chocolate or peace of mind, and they will choose a piece of chocolate. Ask the same question of an adult, and they will almost always choose peace of mind. But there are those who equate chocolate with peace of mind! 😉 Why would adults choose peace of mind when faced with this choice? Because they know what it feels like to experience disturbance.
Inner peace has real value in our daily lives, and deep meditation is one of the easiest pathways. Moreover, deep meditation cultivates inner peace that is resilient in the face of life’s challenges. Sorry, chocolate lovers! You might want to add a meditation practice to your chocolate practice!
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What is deep meditation?
Deep meditation is a state of profound relaxation often accompanied by a feeling of expansion or consolidation. Typically, an experience of deep meditation has fewer thoughts, sometimes to the point of losing awareness of time and space.
Most deep meditation experiences happen after a longer period of regular meditation practice. However, some techniques, like SKY Breath Meditation or Sahaj Samadhi Meditation, can give an experience of deep meditation right from the very first meditation session.
Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions about deep meditation.
What is the difference between deep relaxation and deep meditation?
Deep relaxation is unwinding, while deep meditation connects with your inner self.
How can you tell if you are in deep meditation?
You might not be able to tell if you’re deep until you have opened your eyes at the end of your meditation session. Other times, it will be obvious that you are deep because of how still you feel, or there might be a feeling of expansion. See the altered states of consciousness section below.
How do you evaluate your deep meditation experience?
Do not try to evaluate your experience during meditation. Evaluate your life and look for positive changes outside of meditation.
Types of meditation
Guided meditation
This type of meditation is fairly common and can include mindfulness practices, visualizations, body scans, Yoga Nidra, and Progressive Muscle Relaxation. These can sometimes result in deeper meditations depending on the ability to let go.
Sometimes, mantra-based and breath-based techniques can also be guided.
Unguided meditation
Some unguided methods can be challenging if they involve concentration. But if effortless and letting go is part of the practice, unguided meditation may give the deepest experiences.
Two of the best examples of unguided meditations are mantra meditation and breathing meditation.
The meditation process
The main principle for meditation, especially deep meditation, is to let go! Unfortunately, any method that uses focus or colored dots isn’t likely to lead to deep meditation, except perhaps through exhaustion.
Effort in meditation is counterproductive to deeper meditation experiences. Based on instructions from Gurudev, a meditation master, here are a few more specifics.
How to practice guided meditation
Don’t bother to listen to instructions with too much attention during guided meditation. Too much attention brings tension. Allow the instructions to float, and you just relax and let go!
How to practice unguided meditation
Start your meditation with the three golden keys—these thoughts open the door to deep meditation.
I do nothing.
This means from your side, you do not use any effort to focus or control the experience.
Thoughts will come and go; do not resist them.
Forget your to-do list until after meditation.
I want nothing.
During meditation, drop any desire for a good experience. Know that every meditation is doing some good, even meditations that do not feel deep.
Do not set goals for your meditation session.
Leave your planning mind aside while you meditate.
For this time, drop all desires. After meditation, you can pick them up again.
I am nothing.
During your meditation session, drop all your identifications, even the identifications that “I am a good meditator” or “I am a bad meditator.”
Drop all your roles while you meditate. During meditation, you are not a mother, daughter, brother, husband, your job, or any other role.
Establishing a meditation practice
Commit to practicing every day, come what may
Make meditation a part of your daily routine, such as right after waking up or before bed
Find a quiet and comfortable space to meditate, free from distractions and interruptions
If you’re not using a technique, start with short sessions, such as 5-10 minutes, and gradually increase as you become more comfortable with the practice
Learn a technique from a certified meditation teacher
Join a weekly group meditation to strengthen your daily practice
Overcoming challenges in meditation
Don’t judge your experience during meditation, as this can cause stress, reduce your results, and even make meditation an unpleasant experience
It’s normal for your mind to wander during meditation - gently bring your attention back to your practice/instruction
Be patient with yourself, and remember that meditation can take time to master
Try out different types of meditation to find what works best for you and your lifestyle
Use physical postures like yoga to help prepare the body for meditation
Deepening your meditation practice
Learning a meditation technique from a certified meditation instructor can be liberating and empowering. Once learned, you are free to practice on your own without being tethered to any devices. And when you need guidance, your meditation instructor is there to support you. Techniques also typically come with research to back them up. There's no need to recreate the “meditation wheel.”
Group meditations or mass meditations are another great way to supercharge your meditation practice and take you to deeper and deeper experiences.
Curated silent retreats are my personal favorite when it comes to creating more depth in my daily practice.
Everyday applications of meditation
Beyond attaining inner peace, meditation has numerous practical benefits for day-to-day life. Here are just some of the ways meditation could improve your daily life.
Reduces stress
Reduces anxiety
Improves sleep
Improves mental clarity
Increases productivity and efficiency
Improves blood pressure and heart health
Better relationships
Increases mindfulness
Altered states of consciousness
What constitutes an altered state of consciousness?
Increased sense of inner peace and contentment
Increased awareness and clarity of mind
Increased connection with others and the environment
Increased compassion and empathy
Summary
Mastering deep meditation requires patience, persistence, and regular practice.
Establishing a regular meditation practice can lead to numerous physical and emotional benefits, including reduced stress and anxiety.
Don’t be afraid to try out different types of meditation to find what works best for you.
By incorporating meditation into your daily routine, you can experience a greater sense of calm, focus, and inner peace.
Going Deeper with SKY Breath Meditation
I have been practicing SKY Breath Meditation for 30 years, and it is the single most powerful combination of breath and meditation I’ve ever experienced. SKY has certainly given me tangible inner peace and so much more. You can learn SKY in the Art of Living Part 1 course. Check it out for yourself!
So what will you choose? A piece of chocolate or peace of mind? I will take both, thank you very much! 😉
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