Meditation is simple but hard. For most people, it’s not the act itself; it’s consistently doing it. In my memory, there was a massive interest in meditation a decade and a half ago, tied mostly to productivity gains and “calmness.”

The irony is not lost on me because the origins of Eastern meditation are closely linked to detaching oneself from society and using meditation as a method to introspect into one’s true nature1. Nevertheless, a method is a means to an end and you are welcome to choose your purpose.

Meditation is straightforward.

  1. Find a clean place in your home or elsewhere.
  2. Sit comfortably with an erect spine.
    • This is very important. It’s important to not move while you’re meditating. If your awareness shifts then you may lose your concentration.
  3. Close your eyes.
  4. Focus on sounds that are far away from you.
  5. Focus on sounds closer to you.
  6. Focus on the sound of breath.
  7. Mentally gently chant “Om” (or similar).

Naturally, you will get distracted. It’s a part of the practice. Repeat steps four through seven. That’s it. There isn’t a secret technique or grand unravelling; there’s only awareness.

  1. This is the view of Zen Buddhists, by and large. For other schools of thought, there are many forms of “meditation.” For example, in Sivananda Yoga, there are many types of meditation. Some intended to improve concentration, others intended to acquire insight into “reality.” ↩︎