In this article, I am going to talk about Meditation Music vs Guided Meditation. Which one is better? Which gives better results? I personally prefer a combination of both but there are people who are loyalists to one camp. Lets discuss.
Is Meditation Music helpful?
From time immemorial, human beings have used music to convey and feel emotions. Advertisements and Movies have music; meditators enjoy music in their meditation practices as well. Just a quick search on social media will result in playlist after playlist recommending Meditation Music. Music definitely has the capability to trigger specific emotions deep within us. Certain sounds illicit positive emotions within us while others negative.
So there needs to be a distinction between Music that is conducive for meditation and music that distracts us from meditation.
Which camp do you belong to?
There are two camps out there. One group believes that music assists in one’s ability to go deep into meditation while the other claims that Meditation Music is plain distraction and defeats the purpose of meditation. Both the camps have solid proofs with them showcasing why Meditation music does or doesn’t work. For some groups, Meditation Music is a must while for others, silence is the key. No matter which camps you belong to, looking at the result people get, it’s evident that both methods are helpful. Eventually it all comes down to personal preferences.
Impact of bad Music.
Is there anything called bad music or sound? Bad music definitely has an impact on the human mind and body.
Imagine that you are stuck in a traffic signal in India. Once the signal turns green, the atmosphere gets filled with non-stop honking from impatient drivers. I am sure you must have experienced it. It’s a crazy place to be at. The amount of damage your ears and your nervous system go through during those few minutes is startling.
Or imagine a situation where 2 or more people are yelling or screaming at each other in a fight. It is very obvious that such aggressive sounds drain your energy reserves.
The above 2 are extreme cases of bad sounds but it was just to illustrate that certain sounds have a negative impact on our nervous systems.
The wrong kind of sound can cause outright discomfort. Not all forms of music can be used in meditation. There are certain types of music that have been found to increase anxiety and agitation in the listener or push them into a dark or gloomy state of mind. This could be counterproductive to someone looking to calm their mind with meditation.
Right music for meditation.
Masters from different traditions have varied opinions but all agree that there are certain universal sounds that are soothing to the ears and help a beginner to start their meditation journey.
The following sounds have been found helpful during meditation. When played by a trained professional, all these sounds can have a positive impact on one’s mind and body and assists in mediation.
- String instruments like the Guitar, Veena and Sitar
- Bell sounds.
- Rain sounds.
- Drum sounds
- Ancient Mantras
As a beginner, I faced a lot of difficulty to settle my scattered mind. As my overthinking was over the roof, I searched online for a solution which led me to discover the 5 Meditation Music videos by Art of Living foundation that I have mentioned below. Moreover, you can start practicing it immediately as it’s free of cost.
Sit with your eyes closed and listen to these audios. Make sure you are sitting in a comfortable place where nobody can disturb you. Don’t listen while you are driving.
- Space
2. Hollow & Empty Meditation
3. Healing Flute Music
4. Inner Peace
5. Blossom in your smile
My experience with Meditation Music.
Most of the meditation music that I was listening to were at least 30 minutes long. This caused me to be inconsistent with my meditation practice as there were multiple days where I didn’t have 30 minutes to spare. Another challenge with meditation music was that it was passive in nature. It was similar to listening to a song. I found myself enjoying the music and feeling good but there were times I didn’t feel like I had meditated.
I wanted to know if there were short videos available for people that lead very busy lives. It introduced me to something known as Guided meditations. During the initial stages, these guided meditations helped me to relax without needing to learn fancy techniques or spend 30 plus minutes.
Benefits of Guided Meditation
- In my opinion, it’s better to have someone guide you through your meditations if you don’t know where to start. Guided meditations are easy as it doesn’t rely on any technique.
- People who overthink especially during meditation will find Guided meditations useful as an instructor led meditation session will help you gain some control over your overthinking.
- Guided meditations are super short that can be done with quickly.
- Guided meditations have instructions that are easy to follow. No confusion at all.
- Guided meditations are free of cost.
- Regular practice of guided meditations will give the same results as that of a technique-based meditation.
- Guided Meditations help you to achieve good quality sleep, inner peace and clarity in mind.
- Guided meditations are useful for people who don’t have the time to attend a meditation retreat.
Free Guided Meditation by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
I will provide you 2 Free Guided meditations by Sri Sri that you can practice daily from the comfort of your home. The below 2 meditations will help you immensely if you are someone who struggles with anxiety or is facing sleep issues.
20 minute Guided meditation for Sleep
Guided meditation for Anxiety
I have no time at all!
Maybe you are somebody who doesn’t have time to meditate due to your long working hours. You want to meditate but whenever you search for meditation videos online, they are either 30 mins or 40 mins long. Well in this case, I’ll present to you a list of short meditations that can be done quickly.
Imagine doing a meditation so short that it can be compared with the time it takes you to brush your teeth, have a bath, go to the washroom, have food etc.
Below are 2 meditations for people who are short on time. I am sure everyone can spare 5 to 10 mins from their busy schedule for some meditation practice.
Guided Meditation in 5 mins
Guided Meditation in 10 mins
Conclusion
It is completely your choice whether you want to listen to a Meditation Music playlist or sit for a short Guided meditation session. Be assured that both have their own benefits. Like me, you can incorporate both into your spiritual journey. Whether you choose Meditation Music or Guided Meditation for your daily practice, it is important to meditate every day. If you are somebody who is serious about meditation, then you can click here to learn the easiest meditation technique in the world.
