What Type of Meditation is This?

I teach Vedic meditation, a simple, natural, and effortless mental technique that is practiced sitting comfortably in a chair, with eyes closed, for about twenty minutes at a time.

With its roots in the same Indian body of knowledge that has given us all forms of yoga, ayurvedic healthcare, and much of Eastern philosophy, Vedic meditation uses a personalized mantra—a soft and resonant sound that is entertained silently in the mind—to trigger the mind’s descent to quieter levels. Reliable and mechanical, it works for everyone who follows the correct procedure. It involves no concentration, no effort, and no tortuous sitting positions.

It does not require an absolutely quiet environment, a fancy chair, or new-agey accoutrements. Vedic meditators are expert adapters: they learn how to meditate in the office, the airport, or their parked car while their kids rampage in the living room.

It does not require the adoption of any belief system, ideology, or crunchy lifestyle changes. Vedic meditators have been known to enjoy good wine, parties, and fashionable, non-orthopedic shoes.

Since being popularized outside of India over the last five decades, chiefly under the name transcendental meditation, millions of people around the world have learned this effortless technique. Today, all kinds of people practice it as part of their daily routine, from artists and actors to surgeons and CEOs, and from students and single moms to busy employees and retirees alike.