When is the best time to meditate?

From The Good Life...

 

When is the best time to meditate? This is a frequently asked question. Here’s a great reply from Ta-tsu-wa who is widely recognized as highly knowledgeable about the subjects of meditation and entrainment…

The biggest obstacle most folks new to meditation encounter is sitting down consistently for meditation at all. They tend to be hit and miss in their practice which is a great part of the reason so many report lack of success with meditation. The benefits of meditation are cumulative, not just over the course of a few days, weeks, months or years, but over one's entire lifetime. Inconsistent practice yields equally inconsistent results. So for newcomers it's true that the best time for meditation is whenever you can find or make the time, but that should happen more or less every day. It's far better to practice at a different time each day than it is to always practice at the same time but to manage practicing only 1 or 2 days per week. 

Like the Nike slogan says, "Just do it."

Is there "a best time" in any absolute sense? I don't believe so. Everyone is unique and meditation practice reflects this uniqueness. Some teachers advise always doing your practice in the morning, some say before the sun rises, others say do it at night before bed. Every teacher has an opinion based in part on how they were taught and in part on how things have worked out in their own practice. I cannot find any substantiation for the idea that there is one "most perfect" time of day for meditation.

I believe there is a rough pattern to how our meditation practice develops over the course of our life.

For beginners, do it whenever you can find or make time but do it as close to every day as you can manage so that it becomes a habit.

Once you become somewhat proficient at the art of meditation you will probably find it helpful to pick a particular time each day and try to be consistent in practicing at that time. I think that preference will vary from individual with some preferring mornings, some evenings, others at various times throughout the mid portion of the day.

When your practice has deepened sufficiently you will likely revert back to meditation quite naturally throughout the day at any time.”

I don’t think anyone wants to live with anger, resentment, guilt or any other debilitating emotions that create self imposed limitations and insecurity. Just a few minutes a day, following the above advice for 21 days will cultivate your awareness and insight. As you allow your burdens to fall away you will be free to enjoy the life you were meant to live; a life filled with new perspectives; new ideas; new peace of mind; a new you.

Yours for HUGE success,

Michael Mackenzie