Many people find the use of mantras to be a great benefit, and there are well-established schools promoting this system. Every TM student is given a specific mantra to use for the entirety of their practice. Over the years, TM has become quite visible in the mainstream media due to such notable and devoted practitioners as David Lynch, Paul McCartney and Jerry Seinfeld.
More than 80 percent of the music meditations use ambient music. "What works for one person doesn't work for another person. So music for some people can be completely distracting, for other people it can help them feel more peaceful and relaxed," Winston says. Chaudhary falls into the distracting camp, preferring to meditate for 10 minutes in silence in the morning before her kids wake up.
I find it very difficult to meditate on complete silence and therefore lean on the guided meditations while developing my skills. Insight Timer, one of the most popular meditation apps, acts as a platform for meditation instructors to upload classes to 13 million users. Of the guided meditations offered, about 47 percent have background music, while 53 percent don't.
Learning which style you prefer can be an invaluable step for building a solid and successful mediation practice for years to come. Some have gone on multi-month or even multi-year silent relaxation music retreats. If you find silence disquieting or unpleasant, then you’re not able to be at peace with yourself. The way to get comfortable with silence is to practice being with it.
If you find the music brings lots of thoughts, memories, and internal dialogue, switch to a different type of music. Instrumental music can come in many forms, including classical, jazz, new age, and more, and it can be less distracting than other types of music. All of these can help a busy mind settle down for a better meditation experience, especially if you are a beginner. Just make sure you keep the volume not too high, maybe place the speaker on the far side of the room to soften the experience. These being excellent examples of ambient music, maybe minus the drums, also serve as wonderful background music for keeping stress levels at bay. Pay attention to your direct experience of the body, your feelings, and your mind, without trying to add anything to the situation.