Vedic Meditation

image-womanmeditating

Brief Description: Vedic meditation is over 5,000 years old; its origins are in India. Learning Vedic Meditation is relatively simple. The initiate is given a mantra by a teacher or guru. The mantra has no inherent meaning but is only a sound used silently (not spoken or chanted) in the mind to induce a relaxed, non-thinking state. The meditator practices twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening – for 20 minutes in a comfortable upright position. There is no demand on the meditator to change his/her lifestyle in any way save that nothing interferes with his/her daily practice. Vedic Meditation teachers teach independently of any formal or proprietary organisation. Vedic Meditation has been gaining in popularity in recent years, as some consider it to be a generic brand of Transcendental Meditation.

What is the main focus? To release stress and access full potential in all areas of life

Is it a religion? No, although there are influences of ancient Indian culture

Does it involve chanting? No, although the practitioner does use the sound of a mantra to elicit a profound de-excitation of mental activity.

What is the average meditation practice time? 20 minutes, morning and evening.

Where is the technique usually practiced? Anywhere the practitioner can sit comfortably with the back supported.

How do you learn the technique? Courses are offered by various independent teachers, mostly in Los Angeles, CA and Sydney, Australia.

Scientifically proven benefits: Meditators experience a state of deep relaxation during practice of the technique that helps to dissolve stress over time.

Leading medical experts report that 90% of all disease is caused or complicated by stress.

A few of the benefits experienced by people who practice Vedic Meditation regularly include:
Lower Blood Pressure
Relief from Insomnia
Better Immune System
Reduced Anxiety
Fewer Infections
Normalization of Body Weight

Cost to learn? Varies. US teachers usually offer instruction in exchange for a sliding-scale contribution based on a week’s pay while Australian teachers charge fees of $1100 and below.