How to learn meditation in 2024?

Question

Going through my learnings of last year, and goals for the next, I realise that all I actually want to do (or be) is a calmer and more clearer version of myself!I dabbled into meditation a few times, but always lost my strike and it ended up not having any impact!I have two young kids. And interacting with them in stressful situations showed me I want to be a role model to them as well.So, what&rsquo;s the best (guided) way of learning and practicing it every day?I tried Headspace in the past, but it seems like overloaded and too much input for me! Books, online courses or simple apps?

TheMonkDude · Accepted Answer

Hi, A friend forwarded this to me as he figured I'd be the right person to help with this. I'm a yoga monk, originally from New Zealand, now living in California. I've been teaching meditation for more than 40 years, these days mostly for technology professionals. I have created some easy to use products for people in your kind of situation. I'd suggest you start with the app we built. www.Blisstimer.com It is pretty simple, and uses a combination of mantra chanting music, guided meditations followed by a silent meditation. You can customize your sessions, creating your own playlists for short or longer sessions. That's all free. The premium content ($4 pm) includes a 30 day "virtual meditation retreat". It is very light on commitment and time, doable for busy people, but with just enough content to get you into a daily meditation and simple yoga routine. There is also a whole section of easy yoga exercises, tailored for different common problems like like back pain, headaches or anxiety.
I think you will find this helpful. I also have an introductory meditation book I wrote primarily for my university students, but it really suits anyone. Close Your Eyes & Open Your Mind - a Practical Guide to Spiritual Meditation - Dada Nabhaniilananda (that's me )
Good luck and feel free to get in touch if you need more help. I also teach in-person - if you happen to be in California.
Warmly Dada Nabhaniilananda
Oh, and I should add, I also teach for companies and teams, so some folks actually get paid to meditate with me while they're at work! You can find more about that here: www.TheMonkDude.com

brudgers · Answer

I have two young kids.Every moment is better spent with them than meditating.Give yourself permission to make mistakes.They will turn out fine anyway.And you will learn a lot over the years.Maybe learn meditation. Maybe not.Anyway, if you are serious about learning meditation, find a teacher and go in-person. Commitment matters. Good luck.