Monks meditating under a tree “There’s no substitute for a strong daily meditation practice.”

–Ananda Minister Haridas Blake, during lunch today

In celebration of making a commitment to deepen my own meditations, I want to share something to help people get started with a solid daily sadhana (spiritual practice).

To learn meditation, check out this simple, yet deep, beginning meditation technique.

I started meditating daily nearly four years ago, and in that time I have grown more spiritually than I would have in forty years of not meditating. It’s that profound.

Here are some tips that I’ve found helpful:

  1. Meditate at the same time every day. This will help build a habit, and eventually you will feel yourself wanting to meditate at those times.
  2. In connection with the above, meditate in the same place every day. Put a screen around where you meditate, or if possible set aside a room for that purpose. All these things will help build peaceful vibrations that will make meditation easier and more enjoyable.
  3. Make friends with people who have been meditating for a long time. Ask if you can meditate with them! These things will help to deepen your practice and make it more regular. When you have someone else to meditate, you will be much less likely to flake out!
  4. There’s a general rule about meditation: the more you meditate, the more you will want to meditate. Try a longer meditation each week. But never meditate to the point of strain or boredom. It should be enjoyable.
  5. Most importantly, never give up. If you miss a day, just say, “I haven’t yet succeeded.” As long as you keep energy going in the right direction, you can make it.

With even a little bit of meditation, every day, your life will slowly start to change. There is nothing like meditation. There is nothing so enjoyable. It is certainly one of life’s best kept secrets.