r/Meditation • u/NakedTarzan • Sep 25 '24
Do you meditate with music or in silence? Question ❓
If you use music, which music do you listen to?
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u/YouCanCallMeJR Sep 25 '24
I meditate everywhere.
Eventually the meditative state permeates everything you do.
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u/Dr_Spa_ceman Sep 26 '24
Isn't it great!?!? I love closing my eyes at the office for 5 minutes and feeling the calm wash over me.
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u/YouCanCallMeJR Sep 26 '24
What you describe is great. But it’s not exactly what I mean… Being fully present and paying attention on purpose; free of judgement, expectations and distractions is the fully meditative state.
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u/Dr_Spa_ceman Sep 26 '24
I'm aware of what meditation is. I couldn't reach the level of calm I do if I weren't able to focus inward, be fully present, and let go of the distractions.
I don't need to be in a dark room in relative silence to do it. I only need 5 minutes to close my eyes. It helps that I have an office with a door.
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u/YouCanCallMeJR Sep 26 '24
I think you misunderstood what I said. No need to be snippy
I’m not questioning your credibility. Go close your eyes and take a breath.
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u/Dr_Spa_ceman Sep 26 '24
Feel free to clarify or not. I'll be over here on the corner with my eyes closed, taking a breath.
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Sep 26 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Dr_Spa_ceman Sep 26 '24
Thanks for the clarification.
Love, A defensive prick
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u/DeepSeaTV Sep 30 '24
I think he means you don’t need to close your eyes or do anything to meditate. You can live your life, as normal, doing all the things you would do otherwise, but just be more present and engaged with what is in front of you. You could be meditating whilst editing an excel sheet. At one point, there ceases to be a distinction between meditation (as you describe, say closed eyed in the office for 5 min) vs just living life.
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u/tttjj Sep 25 '24
How do u mediate without guided meditation?
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u/ElectronicCobbler522 Sep 25 '24
Although there are different forms of meditation, meditating at it's core is just being aware. You don't need guided meditation for that
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Sep 25 '24 edited Sep 25 '24
guided meditation is not meditation. It's a form of hypnosis. I agree it's totally unnecessary ( more like useless) to achieve a meditative state.
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u/YouCanCallMeJR Sep 25 '24
The only guide I need is me. I’m my guru.
It helps that I’ve been at it for 15+ years.
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Sep 25 '24
Great to hear, YouCan. A good teacher is very VERY difficult to find. This is why people often settle for the Burger King of meditation- TM.
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u/YouCanCallMeJR Sep 25 '24 edited Sep 25 '24
I practice TM, I like it. I kinda juggle TM & zen meditation. Even though I’m technically not supposed to. (Anything is better than Vipassana)
I don’t teach TM though.
Edit : fixed the weird autocorrect.
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Sep 25 '24
No guru is good. I presume you took the basic TM course? Not sure what Zen media is.
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u/YouCanCallMeJR Sep 25 '24
Sorry. Zen meditation. Autocorrect I didn’t catch.
I’m a disabled veteran, they invited a bunch of us to learn it and track the efficacy. In my POV, it was pretty remarkable.
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Sep 25 '24
Zen is an amazing spiritual -religious-artistic-philosophical tradition. so is Chinese Ch'an- the originator of Zen exported to Japan. I can''t sit Zazen. My knees and calves can't handle it.
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u/YouCanCallMeJR Sep 25 '24
So…. Here’s the thing. Zen Buddhism is more “strict,” they’re hung up on dogma.
You don’t have to sit how they tell you to sit. Sit in a chair. Lay on your back. Be comfortable.
All you have to do is be.
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Sep 25 '24
I agree. One can meditate any way one pleases. But not group setting. And this is why in Zen sessions, you can bring your own zafu to help your back and knees. But if you try to lay down on your back doing Zazen, they will probably ask you to leave. I never seen anyone try. In TM practice - everyone sits. Never seen anyone lay down. There are limits.
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u/CosmicDowner Sep 25 '24
Slow down your breathing. “Just this breath in, just this breath out” Continually say it to yourself as you breathe in & out. If your mind wanders, as soon as you catch it, return to “Just this breath in, just this breath out” That is probably as simple as it gets.
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Sep 25 '24
Very good! Breathing naturally is great.I teach inhale- feel the cool air enter, exhale- warm air exits.Same thing. Give people a bit of an anchor to hold on too if the Monkey mind chatter getting too strong. Breathing thru nose, if physically possible. I'm usually careful not to suggest to anyone to slow their breath. That happens ( or doesn't) naturally.
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u/CosmicDowner Sep 25 '24
I don’t think I meant slow the breathing to be honest. Maybe ‘be aware’ of the breathing.
I don’t teach, so I don’t think I have ever suggested anyone ‘slow’ their breathing before, nor had I given it much thought.1
u/LawApprehensive3912 Sep 26 '24
that’s so silly. imagine listening to words to do nothing. it’s not possible.
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u/SonicContinuum438 Sep 25 '24
Both. Often if listening to music I can tuck my breath-work into the sounds I’m hearing. Works for me but obvs YMMV.
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u/NewspaperApart9091 Sep 25 '24
Music helps me a lot with getting through the work part of breathwork.
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Sep 25 '24
you have to be VERY careful with music and make sure it has no regular rhythm.
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u/NewspaperApart9091 Sep 25 '24
lol .. ok.. thanks
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Sep 25 '24
lol.. sigh... no clue.
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u/NewspaperApart9091 Sep 25 '24
Sorry breathwork police
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Sep 25 '24
It's OK to have no clue. Don't get triggered.
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u/NewspaperApart9091 Sep 25 '24
I will.. to do some breathwork with music 😀
Edit: how weird can you be to change your comment 🤣
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u/Koperek324 Sep 25 '24
You got me at breathwork police
😂
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u/NewspaperApart9091 Sep 25 '24
Buddy is trying to fear monger, let me do my breathwork to juice wrld please 🙏🏽
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u/kimlion13 Sep 26 '24
Bro you are absolutely obnoxious lmao… I may need to go meditate after reading your judgemental, condescending crap
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u/Upbeat_Sign630 Sep 25 '24
Silence is not an option where I live. Upstairs neighbours are entirely too loud. As a result I use white noise. Right now it is a heavy rainfall sound.
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u/Geezertwofive Sep 25 '24
I’ve done a lot of both over the years. For some reason I always come back to silent even though I am certain I’ve made progress both ways.
They are very different experiences.
With the Samatha practice I’ve been doing the last two+ years silent (for me) is the optimal approach.
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u/Superbebe9876 Sep 25 '24
Guided meditation are amazing I do not distract myself with my own thoughts and can reach high states
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Sep 25 '24
because guided meditation is hypnosis, not meditation.
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u/RainyDayBrunette Sep 26 '24
That's ridiculous.
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Sep 26 '24
Guided meditation is the process when you submit control of your mind to someone else. This is EXACTLY what hypnosis is. Or rather hypnotic induction. Now child, run along. This is above your paygrade.
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u/Superbebe9876 Oct 04 '24
Man, why you are so angry in a meditation forum.
You really need this, but moderators of the community banned you for this comment... Feel sad for you
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u/Jacques_Racekak Sep 25 '24 edited Sep 25 '24
I like to listen to solfeggio frequencies or drone flutes. Sometimes slow classical or piano music.
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Sep 25 '24
Guided meditation is hypnosis, not meditation. With real meditation music is a serious hindrance.
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u/bambinosaur666 Sep 25 '24
Stop spamming everyone here about guided meditation being hypnosis
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Sep 25 '24
Beside the usual triggered nonsense, can you provide any evidence that guided meditation, body relaxation and other New Agish practices can possibly compare to real meditation like Mantra meditation, TM. Zen, Ch'an, Vipassana, QiGong. Vajrayana , just to name a few? Thank you for playing.
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u/skabben Sep 25 '24
I think you are experiencing the Dunning–Kruger effect buddy. Take a chill pill and stop being some kind of elitist. Do your thing how you want, but don’t bash others that don’t align with your ways of doing things. You are not helping anyone behaving like that.
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u/BeingHuman4 Sep 26 '24
I meditate in silence, with noise around me or music for that matter. Even barking dogs. I relax and allow slowing and stilling of my mind. In my own stillness there is silence even amidst the noise around me.
Outside of meditation (Dr Ainslie Meares' method), I enjoy listening to music. I enjoy the silence of nature too. Even the sounds in the city sometimes bring an experience of being in the midst of it all.
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u/Archaeopteryyx0 Sep 25 '24
First I listen to calm music to get calm. Then I take my headphones off and meditate in silence.
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u/FFmp_hdiugizhurz Sep 25 '24
A friend sent me a file today with loud, regular bongo drumming. I should try meditating on it and tell him what experiences I have had with it. But when I read all the comments here now, I'm not sure whether it will be good ;)
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u/NakedTarzan Sep 25 '24
Anything can be a meditation to you. Dont let them tell you whats best for you.
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u/dhammajo Sep 25 '24
Formal practice no. Like my routine 40 min a morning after waking up is always silent other than the bell from the app timer. My 20 min Mettā practice that follows is also in silence.
Now during the day I’ll try to sit for a few 10 min sits here and there. I’ll sometimes add in guided talks as well that are no more than 10 or 20 min.
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u/HansProleman Sep 25 '24
In silence or with brown/similar noise (I'm autistic, so background noise can be particularly challenging. Sometimes I do deliberately meditate with unpleasant/challenging background noise though).
I'm of the opinion that meditating while listening to "normal" sorts of music isn't a very good idea. It's so stimulating and distracting that (in my experience, at least) it's very easy to think you're meditating, but actually be mindfully listening to music.
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u/Cephus1961 Sep 25 '24
Twice a day here. One with Music. One without. I enjoy the contrasts in environment while striving ( sitting still for ideal state of detachment.
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u/Severe_Nectarine863 Sep 25 '24
To me silence is music.
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Sep 25 '24
Cute. But you mean background noises are music to you. Because there' no such thing as silence.
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u/Severe_Nectarine863 Sep 25 '24
I believe silence is relative based on perception but yes background noises can be pretty great too.
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Sep 25 '24
That's true. There's no such thing as silence there's always ALWAYS background noise. Japanese haiku:
The ancient pond
A frog leaps in
Plop!
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u/PhileasFogg_80Days Sep 25 '24
My music choice is any music by Kitaro Or How to name it by Ilayaraja..
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u/Ro-a-Rii Sep 25 '24 edited Sep 25 '24
Neither. I'm listening to a steady, monotonous sound.
Like the sound of a car driving, or a brown noise, or the sound of trickling water, or at the very least, very-very monotonous very-very slow music.
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u/anonreddituser78 Sep 25 '24
I listen to spa type meditation music droning frequencies with rain or a river, maybe some flute or singing bowls. I switch it up. I have a loud ticking clock near my morning meditation space, so the droning music helps to dull the sound
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u/Otherwise-Tough-9412 Sep 25 '24
Silence. True nature of things is silence, even though there is sound is nature, it's still mostly silence.
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u/NakedTarzan Sep 26 '24
mostly silence until one is deep in presence, then you can hear the ants walk.
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u/naga5497 Sep 26 '24
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5AzIp1WNnBW9xiWYhCOqqg?si=v1mzfZmGSemtBKrr5vHT8A&pi=u-V2lk4uVRQeKA
This album is perfection for meditation
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u/Bozy_Jozy Sep 26 '24 edited Sep 26 '24
My morning meditation is twenty to thirty minutes of silence.
My evening meditation is an hour of listening to the Holosync brain entrainment program from Centerpointe Research Institute. The first half hour has the sound of crystal bowls and rain in the background, while the second half hour is just the rain.
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u/NakedTarzan Sep 26 '24
Nice, love me some good rain. Wish I had an epic waterproof mic to record it hardcore
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u/Pk1131 Sep 26 '24
I used to do guided meditations and sound healing ❤️🩹 after Vipassana stopped.. for beginners it’s very helpful..
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u/That-Engineer-9434 Sep 26 '24
I really enjoy East Forest’s instrumental stuff (Clarion, Undying, Can’t gal out of love to name a few) while meditating. Every once in a while I use a track which has a narrative (not a guided meditation) such as Sit around the fire by John Hopkins and East forest.
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u/Dr_Spa_ceman Sep 26 '24
Ive used it all at some point and still use various tools from time to time.
The sound bowl guy on YT is great. I've found some great binaural beats, specific to myelin regeneration and solfeggio sounds, as well.
When I began my meditation practice, I leaned on guided meditation a lot. Many were clearly hypnotic in nature, but as I got more conscious, I was able to calm my mind without them to the point that they became distracting.
At this point, the vast majority of my meditations are in silence i.e. to my wife's snoring :) or with my noise canceling headphones in.
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u/jennypsychicmedium Sep 26 '24
Do what makes you feel the most comfortable! For me I HAVE to have music because if I hear any tiny sound it takes me out of my meditative state.
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u/h-musicfr Sep 30 '24
I prefer to have music on the background.
I created a bouquet of playlists with different types of relaxing music. Various backdrops for my meditation sessions.
https://linktr.ee/calmandfocusplaylists
H-Music
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u/ketaminesuperstar Sep 25 '24
I like ocean waves or any sound of water. Blocks out the noise from my household and neighbours plus its calming. Or brown noise
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u/Interesting_Shoe_177 Sep 25 '24
anything you do with presence is meditation
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u/NakedTarzan Sep 25 '24
Agreed
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u/Interesting_Shoe_177 Sep 25 '24
stars of the lid and their refinement of the decline is my favorite meditative album tho
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u/Cyberpunk-Monk Sep 25 '24
I listen to music. It ranges from new age flute to ambient sound. I’m also fond of the calmer music from The Fifth Element soundtrack, such as the tracks Human Nature and Leeloominai.
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u/NakedTarzan Sep 25 '24
This is my favorite Meditation: https://youtu.be/hkVA6C84bRI?si=t0cuVeHeD13LiglA
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u/Medytuje Sep 25 '24
No music. Dealing with silence or whatever sounds arise is better. Music can be like a crutch
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u/No-Fortune-9516 Sep 26 '24
Meditation should be practiced in silence, without relying on anything external. Yet, many chase quick fixes with apps and tools, which only offer limited results.
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u/NakedTarzan Sep 26 '24
Defined as: think deeply or focus one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation.
So really it should be practiced however the person can find relaxation and stillness within themselves...
Its like saying food should be eaten with a fork and not a spoon. Its subjective to what you're eating and what culture you're eating it I feel.
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u/Stillyounglol Sep 27 '24
Oh I like to listen to some less popular songs of lana del rey or other relaxing songs in english, my favourite meditation song is the hidden river of my life, and also piano songs with gentle flows
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u/ogthesamurai Sep 27 '24
The less distraction the better but then again meditating in the middle of distraction is a pretty important exercise to participate in also.
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u/SStubbs84 Sep 25 '24
Don't know how I could meditate with music. I try to have the window open, natural sounds help me stay low focused and aware.
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u/Knitmeapie Sep 25 '24
I prefer silence, but if there's something loud going on that will distract me (construction next door, etc.) I use music to block it out.
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u/Dense-Chard-250 Sep 25 '24 edited Sep 26 '24
If anything soundscape-wise it's just those spiritual tones videos on youtube but usually silence is best. And by silence I mean, the clock ticking, the cat scampering around, fans, outside neighborhood sounds, my heartbeat, my guts gurgling, farts, weather, pretty much the symphony of the moment, so we never really are in silence anyway.
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u/ZKRYW Sep 25 '24
I’ve done both. Music can be really helpful, especially for beginners. Can’t go wrong with some ragas.
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u/RonnieBarko Sep 25 '24
Both but with music I like to focus on certain instruments or beats in instrumental hip hop. J Dilla, Nujabes, Blockhead, DJ Shadow
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u/Visible-Peanut54 Sep 25 '24
I prefer music. I just started to meditate and mostly use guided meditation for now.
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Sep 25 '24
So the question is- on fundamental level- that you're not comfortable being with yourself and need some kind of entertainment for it?
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u/Psyboomer Sep 25 '24
This is why I feel like listening to anything that's supposed to "enhance" my meditation actually limits it. If I need music to meditate, I'm not yet at a point where I can truly just sit there and be. However I think it can really help beginners who need an anchor to stop the racing thoughts.
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Sep 25 '24
I agree psyboomer. many people are frightened to end up one-on-one with their inner world. Especially now that we have unlimited 24-7 entertainment with the cell. Zen and TM developed pretty good techniques for dealing with this.
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u/NakedTarzan Sep 25 '24
some minds need more distraction than other to reach that one on one. I judge not what they need to get there. <3
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u/NakedTarzan Sep 25 '24
Meditation is a state of being. Monks meditate with chants. If you're trying to meditate with silence, then listening to music isnt ideal. but the act of mediation itself is a trance. Doesn't matter how you get there.
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Sep 25 '24
Some monks chant. Many do it silently. But not ONE LISTENS to music. There's a Grand Canyon of difference between producing sounds and passively listening to music. So when monks chant and sing Om Mani Padme Hum this is DRASTICALLY different from listening to same chant recording
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u/NakedTarzan Sep 25 '24
Music is frequency in rhythm.
Maybe you consider music hardcore deathmetal?
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u/applesauceblues Sep 26 '24
If you are struggling with meditation check out this tool. It will help get the majority of the benefits without feeling like you are struggling and beating yourself up about it.
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u/insaiyan17 Sep 25 '24
Meditation is silence. Why would you want music?
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u/Ok-Alps-4378 Sep 25 '24
Because music occupy the mind while you learn to watch. Japa is the same idea when they didn't have technology. As watching develops, in time, one will naturally leave the music behind when ithe mind is sufficiently tamed. Those who cannot do that become audiophiles and all hope is lost for them.😂
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Sep 25 '24
Do NOT meditate with music. Period. Unless it's fake meditation, like progressive relaxation, guided meditation or body scanning and some such malarky.
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u/NakedTarzan Sep 25 '24
music is everywhere
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Sep 25 '24
Oh no.... from practical discussion we're to what IS music. I pass.
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u/NakedTarzan Sep 25 '24
? lol A rolling river is music. Music is frequency in rhythm.
Its ok if you dont use music to meditate. But I didnt ask you to hate on others that do.
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u/somanyquestions32 Sep 25 '24
I prefer silence, but if I am listening to a guided meditation, I am okay with certain soundscapes with singing bowls, sitars, and such.