I get asked a lot what kind of meditation music should you use to increase the effectiveness of your meditations. It isn’t an easy answer because we are all different and each of us have our own likes and dislikes. On one hand if you listen to music that you don’t like you will focus on your distaste for the current choice of meditation music and on the other hand if you just use music that you like you fall into the trap of familiarity and may not get the most out of your meditation. Below are some more thoughts which may help you to make an educated decision about which type of meditation music you should use.
Many years ago I noticed that there was a difference between eastern and western thought processes and that each affects meditation differently. Easterners tend to use more symbols and images in their thought processes while westerners use words to speak to themselves in their head.
Most of the meditation practices used by western cultures were originally developed under an eastern method, meaning much of it was based on visual techniques. However, the western brain developed over time to be more productive with verbal thought processes vs. symbols and images. It didn’t make sense that meditation designed for visual thought processes would be as effective for the more mental western.
One of the most difficult problems you will face in meditation is mind chatter, or what is commonly referred to as “monkey mind”. If you think about it, when you listen to meditation music you think less and pay more attention to experiencing the music. So, with music, the monkey mind is distracted allowing you to achieve a better meditation session.
As the world becomes increasingly ‘westernized’ even those not coming from a western culture are at a disadvantage in meditation using symbols or visuals concepts. The idea of meditation is to free your mind from the body and to experience a greater connection to the divine. How you achieve this does not necessarily matter as much as achieving it. Meditation music is a catalyst to achieving the goal for the western-thinking mind.
What kind of Meditation Music is best?
I have used a large range of music. At first I chose dreamy New Age music, then moved on to something with a bit more rhythm, including classical. My current favorite and possibly the best for someone who wants to really amp up their meditation sessions is, believe it or not, techno, particularly trance style. I’m often asked why I would use this type of music and the answer is that it challenges the brain or “monkey mind”.
The brain is very crafty at maintaining its control. You will find that after you use the same meditation music for several meditation sessions the monkey mind will quickly start gaining control again. You will need to choose something fresh. On the other hand, you also want to choose something that is more challenging. What I mean by that is using meditation music that you enjoy also raises your energy. You need meditation music that would normally excite and motivate you, perhaps even something you would dance to.
Because there is a steady background beat to trance music, combined with lots of other sounds and rhythms intertwined, it is both ideal for entering a meditation zone and very challenging to the monkey mind. It also has interesting effects on your meditation as your meditation music makes your brain want to jump around but you are sitting completely still.
Many people will hear this kind of meditation music and won’t believe anyone meditates to it. On the surface there doesn’t seem to be anything serene about it. It’s okay to break away from traditional methods of meditation. As a species we have evolved considerably and it is expected that our brains will have greater demands to achieve our goals.
When you have been meditating long enough eventually it won’t matter what kind of music you are listening to, it will simply cease to exist. What I mean is that you instantaneously will no longer be in the room with it. Your physical body will be, but the mind will move into higher dimensions and the meditation music simply does not exist. This is a good indicator that you are moving into higher regions of consciousness.
Choosing the Right Meditation Music
When you choose meditation music, be sure that it does not contain words, or at least words you understand. Words tend to feed the monkey mind as they are suggestive to you. Choose music that is soft and relaxing and then over time work yourself into music with faster beats like trance music. Your tastes will change. Be sure to choose meditation music you like.
When you are meditating, listen to the meditation music and sounds for a few moments to get engaged with it. It’s like doing push ups. Do three or four and stop for a breather. The breather is the music and the pushups are when you are focusing on the meditation. It’s a great way to amp of your meditations for beginners or experts.
Never get stuck in a rut. Always experiment to find out what works best for you.
One last note, you can also try taking your meditation music with you and meditating in different places. Music and sounds that might not work well for your meditations at home may have a completely different impact if you meditate at the park, or in a grassy field or even under a tree right outside where you live. Mix it up, see what works, don’t be afraid to break the traditional mold of what you think meditation music should be and sound like. You may find it’s exactly what you’ve been looking for right where you least expected it.
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I’m still a fan of meditating in relative silence. I try to follow the Balinese method of simply sitting and smiling and let the sounds of the outside world (birds, wind, cars etc) become clearer than they usually are.
Just my thoughts.
David Turnbull´s last blog ..How To Be Effective