{"id":5856,"date":"2022-02-17T08:34:28","date_gmt":"2022-02-17T08:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/?p=5856"},"modified":"2022-02-17T08:34:29","modified_gmt":"2022-02-17T08:34:29","slug":"can-i-learn-to-meditate-on-my-own","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/can-i-learn-to-meditate-on-my-own\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I learn to meditate on my own?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Many beginners successfully learn to meditate on their own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite many gurus needlessly complicating it, contemplative practice is actually very simple. Not easy, but simple. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It requires no particular preparation, deep knowledge or special equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All that\u2019s required is time<\/a> and patience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I started meditation<\/a> like most people. Fumbling around in the dark. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I was struggling with stress<\/a> and overthinking, looking for anything which might help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Quite serendipitously, my friend recommended the book<\/a>, Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a Frantic World, which provided a splendid overview of the topic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, the book was written following clinical trials in the UK and used clear, concise language – without the mystical component that deters many beginners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The book was well structured, introducing 8 weeks of meditation practice<\/a>, focusing on different techniques each week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This was easily enough to get me started… <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, there came a time in my practice when I needed more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After meditating for a time with just the book instructions, I felt my practice plateauing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although I\u2019d cultivated a steady meditation habit, my practice seemed like it wasn\u2019t progressing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Like many meditators, I questioned whether I was doing it right, wondering where to focus<\/a> my practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So I scouted around for an online teacher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not dedicated support, but a resource I could utilise for guided meditation, which I thought would provide two main benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n I finally settled on the Waking Up<\/a> app by Sam Harris. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sam is a neuroscientist by background, so in addition to being a meditation teacher, I appreciated the grounded approach he brought to his explanations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thus I started a series of guided meditations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps one of the most useful things this taught me was non-dual meditation<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Up until that point, I\u2019d focused primarily on focused and open-monitoring meditation<\/a>. However, by turning attention in on itself in an attempt to see the point from which you feel you\u2019re directing your attention, we learn that subject and object aren’t separate<\/p>\n\n\n\n This place is found to be illusory, just another mind made construction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although concentration meditation can get you to this realisation, insight meditation is said to be a more direct path. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Thus, Harris\u2019 recommendation to include it in the practice made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s perfectly possible to learn to meditate without attending traditional face to face meditation tuition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We live in a golden age of technology, completely unrestricted by local access to such services, which may vary in quality or be completely non-existent, depending on where you live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Internet connectivity provides instant access to the best teachers around the world and in many cases, getting this exposure is free or at least significantly more affordable than one on one sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s look at some of the pros and cons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re curious about meditation, don\u2019t feel like you have to jump headfirst into a 10-day silent meditation retreat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the abundance of information available online, you can easily learn to meditate on your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the methods are often overcomplicated, in reality, it\u2019s incredibly easy to get started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most importantly, meditation is free, with open access to anyone who wants to develop a contemplative practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although at some point, you might feel you\u2019d benefit from specific one-on-one or in-person instruction, experimenting alone first can allow you the space to explore, extracting what you find most helpful from each technique and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simply sitting in meditation each day will have profound effects on your life…<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow beginners learn meditation – my journey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Further instruction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Going it alone without a teacher<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pros<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Next steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can I learn to meditate on my own? Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n