Which meditation is the best meditation?

One of the questions I get asked most is how or why Vedic meditation is the best meditation technique out there. The truth is, I don’t necessarily believe there is one holy grail meditation technique. How can I, when I see so many people finding success with mindfulness, Vipassana and breath work? I’ve had countless people tell me how much <insert technique here> has changed their life, or helped them through <insert difficult situation here>.

As a meditation teacher, it might not be good for business to say this, but I don’t believe Vedic meditation is the only technique that works. To do that, I would have to deny the personal experiences of millions and millions of meditators whose lives have been transformed by a daily practice of some sort. It’s like saying only one type of cuisine can nourish the human body. If you want to know whether a meditation technique works, look at whether you’re actually doing it. Are you practicing daily? Are you able to sit down and actually DO it? And are you noticing shifts in your eyes open experience of life? These are your cues, your indication that whatever you’re practising is working.

Now, it is important to note that not all meditation techniques are the same in their results, research has shown that. I won’t go into all that here (that’s a whole other post!) but it is worth knowing that different meditation techniques produce different outcomes physiologically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The one thing they all offer, though, is a connection to the Self. An opportunity to connect with ourselves in our least stimulated, excited state. There is something very powerful in sitting quietly with yourself, and any practice that encourages you to turn inward and begin traversing your inner nature is a wonderful thing to do. Time in silence with just your own mind and senses is profoundly powerful, and offers treasures of insight for those brave enough to close their eyes.

It’s also worth noting that as meditators, our journey may shift and change. And this is ok, it’s all part of it. My own journey with meditation has seen me explore many different techniques until I found one that “stuck”, or that offered results I could tangibly feel. Many of my students have practised other techniques, and over time found that they have outgrown a particular practice, and felt a calling to explore something else. This is where I feel Vedic meditation does offer a difference – many who come to it after out-growing their previous practice find that it sustains them. I feel this comes from the depth that Vedic meditation offers. The technique itself and the conditions it creates within are such that it can really take you as deep into yourself as you are willing to go. This means a daily practice that constantly opens up to new levels of subtlety and experience, one that expands as you do.

If you currently have a meditation practice and feel as though you want to go deeper, or haven’t yet embarked on a regular practice, I suggest finding a Vedic meditation teacher near you, and attending a free intro talk. The technique is such that there isn’t much of a “try before you buy” or free trial week, so these intro talks are invaluable as you decide whether Vedic meditation feels like the right next step in your meditation exploration. I host regular intro talks, and all are welcome, check the calendar for upcoming talks.