Q. I have a very busy mind. Don’t you have to concentrate on emptying your mind?
A. The technique you will be taught spontaneously quiets the mind. No concentration is required. In
fact, the less effort you make, the more correctly you are practising Vedic Meditation.
Q. I'm already stressed. Will this be another thing for me to worry about if I can't do it properly?
A. Vedic Meditation differs from just about everything else we learn in the West, in the sense that
we do not use effort to practise this form of meditation correctly. The guarantee I give to everyone I
teach is that you will be able to master this easily and enjoy the benefits of meditation and it will be
a source of relaxation and happiness, alleviating stress.
Q. Do I chant a mantra?
A. Vedic meditation does involve a mantra, which literally means a ‘vehicle for the mind’. However,
there is no chanting. The mantra is thought internally, as effortlessly as one thinks any other
thought.
Q. How long do I meditate for?
A. Meditation is practised for 20 minutes, twice a day, morning and evening. For this small
investment of time, meditators gain - in terms of rest - roughly the equivalent of an extra six hours
sleep.
Q. Do I have to sit in a special way? Can I do it lying down or standing up?
A. Meditation is best practised sitting up comfortably in a chair, with the back supported. There is
no need to be in a special pose, such as lotus. Lying down to meditate will tend to induce sleep, so
this is not ideal practice. Standing up is not sufficiently restful to get the full benefit. So, sitting up
comfortably is best.
Q. Do you need total quiet?
A. Noise is no barrier to meditation. As long as you can think you can meditate. So, Vedic
meditation can be practised anywhere that it is safe and sensible to close your eyes.
Q. How do I find the time to do it? People need my attention constantly.
A. By taking 20 minutes to release stress and rest deeply, the rest of your day is more productive
and the attention you will give your family, friends and business associates will be of a higher
quality. The people around you will quite quickly see the positive changes in you and very often we
find that meditators' families, friends and colleagues are really supportive.
Q. How do I know if I’m doing it right?
A. In your course of instruction, correct practice is very clearly explained. I am always happy to
make myself available to talk about your practice. Also, regular group meditations are held free of
charge which you are most welcome to attend. Please contact us for details of where and when the
next group meditation will be held.
Q. Will meditating reduce my ambition and turn me into some sort of 'bliss bunny'?
A. Meditators all experience greater effectiveness and happiness in their lives without becoming
‘bliss bunnies’. As for ambition, meditators tend to be high achievers in whatever fields they work
and to enjoy their achievements even more. There may be a reduction of ambition to pursue goals
that have little chance of yielding happiness.
Q. Is Vedic Meditation a religion? Is it linked to Hinduism? Will I end up wearing robes, sandals and
a pony tail?
A. Vedic Meditation is not a religion. No-one is required to believe in anything. It is a practical
technique that spontaneously quiets the mind and rests the body deeply. The link to Hinduism is
cultural only - the ancient Vedic texts were written many generations before the creation of
Hinduism. Some of those texts have been adopted by followers of the Hindu faith as sources of
wisdom and inspiration. As for the effect on your dress sense, you would be hard-pressed to pick
out the meditators in a crowd - apart from the fact that there is a good chance the meditators will
be smiling.
Q. Isn't this a spiritual practice? Shouldn't it be taught for free?
A. Vedic Meditation is an effortless, practical technique that removes stress from the nervous
system. As meditators become less and less stressed and experience happiness, satisfaction,
ease and grace as a greater and greater proportion of their daily lives, they gain higher
experiences of life as a result. Rather than describing it as a spiritual practice, it might be more
helpful to say it is a method of freeing people to realise their fullest potential.
It would be wonderful if this technique could be taught for free. There are two reasons why this
has been found to be impractical: teachers have bodies that have to be housed, fed and clothed.
As an independent teacher, I am not a monk and have no organisation behind me that supports
me financially. In order that teachers can be totally available to each of their students, you are
asked to subsidise the time of your teacher. Interestingly, my colleagues and I have found that
people who are taught for free rarely continue with their practice beyond a few weeks. Paying a
course fee is an act of commitment and it does appear that, in our culture, we value what we pay
for. Do we not cherish the beautiful china tea cup and so easily throw away the paper cup? They
both hold the same delicious drink and yet we value one far more highly.
In extreme circumstances, when the student shows a heartfelt commitment to meditation and is
experiencing genuine financial hardship, I will always do whatever I can to make it possible for them
to learn.
A. The technique you will be taught spontaneously quiets the mind. No concentration is required. In
fact, the less effort you make, the more correctly you are practising Vedic Meditation.
Q. I'm already stressed. Will this be another thing for me to worry about if I can't do it properly?
A. Vedic Meditation differs from just about everything else we learn in the West, in the sense that
we do not use effort to practise this form of meditation correctly. The guarantee I give to everyone I
teach is that you will be able to master this easily and enjoy the benefits of meditation and it will be
a source of relaxation and happiness, alleviating stress.
Q. Do I chant a mantra?
A. Vedic meditation does involve a mantra, which literally means a ‘vehicle for the mind’. However,
there is no chanting. The mantra is thought internally, as effortlessly as one thinks any other
thought.
Q. How long do I meditate for?
A. Meditation is practised for 20 minutes, twice a day, morning and evening. For this small
investment of time, meditators gain - in terms of rest - roughly the equivalent of an extra six hours
sleep.
Q. Do I have to sit in a special way? Can I do it lying down or standing up?
A. Meditation is best practised sitting up comfortably in a chair, with the back supported. There is
no need to be in a special pose, such as lotus. Lying down to meditate will tend to induce sleep, so
this is not ideal practice. Standing up is not sufficiently restful to get the full benefit. So, sitting up
comfortably is best.
Q. Do you need total quiet?
A. Noise is no barrier to meditation. As long as you can think you can meditate. So, Vedic
meditation can be practised anywhere that it is safe and sensible to close your eyes.
Q. How do I find the time to do it? People need my attention constantly.
A. By taking 20 minutes to release stress and rest deeply, the rest of your day is more productive
and the attention you will give your family, friends and business associates will be of a higher
quality. The people around you will quite quickly see the positive changes in you and very often we
find that meditators' families, friends and colleagues are really supportive.
Q. How do I know if I’m doing it right?
A. In your course of instruction, correct practice is very clearly explained. I am always happy to
make myself available to talk about your practice. Also, regular group meditations are held free of
charge which you are most welcome to attend. Please contact us for details of where and when the
next group meditation will be held.
Q. Will meditating reduce my ambition and turn me into some sort of 'bliss bunny'?
A. Meditators all experience greater effectiveness and happiness in their lives without becoming
‘bliss bunnies’. As for ambition, meditators tend to be high achievers in whatever fields they work
and to enjoy their achievements even more. There may be a reduction of ambition to pursue goals
that have little chance of yielding happiness.
Q. Is Vedic Meditation a religion? Is it linked to Hinduism? Will I end up wearing robes, sandals and
a pony tail?
A. Vedic Meditation is not a religion. No-one is required to believe in anything. It is a practical
technique that spontaneously quiets the mind and rests the body deeply. The link to Hinduism is
cultural only - the ancient Vedic texts were written many generations before the creation of
Hinduism. Some of those texts have been adopted by followers of the Hindu faith as sources of
wisdom and inspiration. As for the effect on your dress sense, you would be hard-pressed to pick
out the meditators in a crowd - apart from the fact that there is a good chance the meditators will
be smiling.
Q. Isn't this a spiritual practice? Shouldn't it be taught for free?
A. Vedic Meditation is an effortless, practical technique that removes stress from the nervous
system. As meditators become less and less stressed and experience happiness, satisfaction,
ease and grace as a greater and greater proportion of their daily lives, they gain higher
experiences of life as a result. Rather than describing it as a spiritual practice, it might be more
helpful to say it is a method of freeing people to realise their fullest potential.
It would be wonderful if this technique could be taught for free. There are two reasons why this
has been found to be impractical: teachers have bodies that have to be housed, fed and clothed.
As an independent teacher, I am not a monk and have no organisation behind me that supports
me financially. In order that teachers can be totally available to each of their students, you are
asked to subsidise the time of your teacher. Interestingly, my colleagues and I have found that
people who are taught for free rarely continue with their practice beyond a few weeks. Paying a
course fee is an act of commitment and it does appear that, in our culture, we value what we pay
for. Do we not cherish the beautiful china tea cup and so easily throw away the paper cup? They
both hold the same delicious drink and yet we value one far more highly.
In extreme circumstances, when the student shows a heartfelt commitment to meditation and is
experiencing genuine financial hardship, I will always do whatever I can to make it possible for them
to learn.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Vedic Meditation
David is delighted to talk about Vedic Meditation so please feel free to contact him with any
questions. Better yet, come along to a free introductory talk where he will answer any queries in
person. Contact us to book your place at the introductory talk, 8-9pm Wednesday in Bondi, NSW.
Click here to Contact Us
questions. Better yet, come along to a free introductory talk where he will answer any queries in
person. Contact us to book your place at the introductory talk, 8-9pm Wednesday in Bondi, NSW.
Click here to Contact Us
Vedic Meditation
with David Giles
with David Giles
| 0413 069 855 Click here to email |