A Beginner's Guide to Meditation

In 2021, I started meditating almost every day because I had read numerous studies about how it could transform lives, and I felt my life needed a serious overhaul.

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By 2020, I had transformed from an outgoing person to someone cancelling phone calls, interviews, and meetings due to nervousness and fear. This shift in behaviour led me to miss out on many opportunities.

Initially, my attempts at meditation were thwarted by distractions, boredom, and a lack of the promised Buddhist calm. It became frustrating, ironic even, that the very act intended to bring me peace left me more annoyed. I had misunderstood the core purpose of meditation; it wasn't a competition, and my impatience for instant results was hindering progress.

Being from Nepal, where meditation is deeply rooted, I felt more frustration. However, meeting people who swore by meditation and others who found it unappealing made me question my approach. While I wouldn't claim to be a meditation expert, I've learned not to label myself a failure. I've realised that the beauty lies in acceptance that it will take time.

In early 2022, I incorporated meditation into my daily routine, practicing it in the morning before getting out of bed and at night before sleep. Initially, silent meditation didn't work for me, so I turned to guided meditation. After experimenting with various teachers on the Insight Timer app, I found solace in Sarah Blondin's sessions. Her soothing guidance made meditation more enjoyable, to the point where I memorised many of her words.

Throughout my on-again-off-again relationship with meditation, I sought advice from a friend, whom I'll call “S,” a seasoned meditator. She never promised miraculous life changes but emphasised the practice's importance and the required patience. Her words served as a steady reminder to persevere. Recently, another friend, “J,” encouraged the practice of daily meditation. I find it simpler to embrace the words of inspiring friends as I aspire to embody their qualities.

A Simple Mindfulness Technique to Improve Your Life.

Despite my initial struggles to focus during meditation, I've come to realise that it's my time with myself—a moment to distance myself from daily stressors and "be in the moment" with my breath. Recently, I've added chanting to my practice, holding onto my rudraksha mala and reciting mantras like Sat Chit Ananda or Aham Brahmasmi. This ritual, coupled with candlelight, has heightened my sense of calm.

Though often, during chants, I think about what I am having for dinner that night.

Unexpectedly, the benefits of meditation manifested sooner than I anticipated. A friend's comment that would have triggered anger in the past barely affected me. I found myself more chill and less reactive- less invested in unnecessary drama and capable of letting go of irritations. Rejections and delays no longer ruffle my feathers, and I've become more understanding of others' situations.

In this journey, I've lost some friends but gained new ones who align better with my current mindset. I no longer expend energy convincing others of my beliefs or offering unsolicited advice. The desire to change people has waned; I focus on my life, appreciating what I have and working toward what I want. I've come to understand that people will change when it becomes important to them, just as it happened to me.

I've shifted my perspective; instead of harbouring anger towards life's circumstances that I can't change or the world, I am now channelling my energy into identifying and making changes that I wish to see within myself.

I am still learning.