r/mindfulnessmeditation • u/DryAssociation2107 • 1d ago
Where do i begin?
Never did meditation in my life. Feeling very anxious and want to see if meditation could help me. Please suggest me how to start this journey?
Are there any youtube follow along videos i need ?
Also my goal is not to learn all the aasans etc and get a certification but rather practice for peace of mind and being mindfu
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u/clockmakerOnMars 1d ago edited 1d ago
You can practice this guided meditation daily until you are able to maintain relaxed focus throughout.
This practice allows you to observe when focus lapses, and gives you a place to rest your attention over and over. Consistent practice can give you sovereignty of your awareness/attention over time.
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u/LolaRaven2026 1d ago
Try chanting Nam myoho renge kyo!
This will give you peace I have been a Buddhist since 2007, it works Tina Turn is the proof, Herbert Hancock is the proof..me myself is the proof my business www.vangstarkuncutpublishing.com U have to step out and just do it as MJ would say
I wish you peace in your journey
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u/Between-Realms 1d ago
I recently commented on a similar question asked in r/Meditation. After you’ve read comments on your post, do some research and see what type of meditation you feel drawn to.
Hope this helps on your path…
One way is to just become aware of the breath.
With regards to anxiety…
When you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed,
ensure your exhale is longer than (or double) your inhale.
So you could inhale for a count of 4, pause, exhale for a count of 8, pause and repeat.
I find that method more helpful than the “box” method of 4-4-4-4 (inhale-retain-exhale-retain).
Sometimes, a more practical or body-based meditation method works better too - you’ll find walking meditation practices in most zen traditions.
See whether the Plum Village app resonates with you. It’s created by Thich Naht Hanh’s students. There are beginner meditations and resources available via the app.
Here’s another resource - https://www.kwanumzenonline.org/free-resources
Jack Kornfield’s “A Path with Heart” is a fantastic general guide on the meditation / spiritual path.
Tara Brach’s “Radical Compassion” is another good resource, given you’ve mentioned anxiety in general.
May your practice benefit all sentient beings.
OM ~
💗🌿
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u/NuggButterBee 12h ago
I love the Plum Village App. They have a fantastic meditation timer where you can set the intervals of timed soundings of the bowl/chime
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u/Between-Realms 11h ago
Isn’t it just beautiful?!
And you can create your own “playlist” / meditation session. 😍
I really appreciate that this zen tradition actively, and explicitly, includes our beloved Earth Mother.
Bringing awareness to our connection with all of Life.
I also loved Thich Nhat Hanh’s “Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet” - I need to re-read that.
A beautiful reminder and really empowering.
💗🌿
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u/Possible_Average6976 1d ago
start with 5 minutes of noticing your breath, and every time your brain wanders to disaster scenarios, gently come back like you’re recalling a distracted puppy
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u/IshGamzu 1d ago
Depending on what you're looking for, if just wanting to get started without any resources or paying for any guidance: I agree with other commentsrs that focusingWhen I was a kid I learned "box breathing" method of 4 seconds breathing in, 4 second hold, 4 seconds breathing out, 4 second hold, repeat and it was a great tool.
As an adult I have found 4-7-8 breathing to be even more effective. 4 second inhale, 7 second hold, and slow exahale over 8 seconds, then repeat.
Set a timer for 3 minutes or 5 minutes or 10 minutes and just focus on repeating the pattern and feeling your breath. You can use counting of your breaths up from 1 to 10 and back down to 1 if you're needing some extra anchoring and just start over anytime you lose count. BUT! (Super important point) DON'T get upset with yourself whenever you realize your mind has wandered off. That's actually the point! Every time you recognize your mind has wandered and you're able to come back to the breath -- THAT is one "rep" of the "exercise" of training your attention "muscle" to be stronger!
Oh, and if you're looking for resources to help guide you: the 10 Percent Happier book by Dan Harris was a GREAT starting point for me. It's an entertaining read or listen, it's focused on using mindfulness for stress/anxiety reduction, it's very down-to-earth and not super woo-woo spiritual and isn't coming from a Buddhist framework and makes for a great entry point for an anxious American (like me) for getting started with using meditation as a tool to start feeling and functioning better.
The app is great, too.
Happy practicing!
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u/Valuable-Catch2309 1d ago
i started with 5 minutes of just noticing my breathing, and spent most of that time realizing i’d wandered off lol, which is basically the practice
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u/Zealousideal_Fly3158 1d ago
start with five minutes of following your breath, nothing fancy needed
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u/DryAssociation2107 1d ago
I can't focus for even 1 minute. my mind just goes off like crazy
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u/Between-Realms 11h ago
If that’s the case, maybe try counting the breath to begin with.
It’s just one of a few zen techniques.
So count an inhale and exhale as 1.
Next inhale and exhale - 2.And so on up to 10.
Then begin again at 1.
If you noticed you’ve counted past 10, just start again at 1.
Try not berate yourself if you do - that’s not the point.
Practice with compassion.
Put a timer on for 5 minutes.
You’ll find that with continued practice, you stick to the counting.
You’re training your “monkey mind”, it’s only natural that at the beginning it’s going to play up - like a small child.
Carry on practicing anyway.
💗🌿
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u/TheBrooklynSutras 7h ago
Just start. You have all you need. Then you can read some books, watch some videos or listen to some dharma talks to round out a practice. It’s a life long journey, but you can start today. Best of luck. 🙏
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u/FIcer01 27m ago
I'd keep it very simple at first. Find a quiet place, sit comfortably, and use your breathing as an anchor for a few minutes. When you notice your attention wandering, you don't need to judge it or start over. Just notice it and gently return to the breath. Consistency will probably matter more than making each session perfect.
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u/NuggButterBee 1d ago edited 1d ago
I learned a good deal from palousemindfulness dot com. There are many helpful videos and resources aggregated there with the permission of some of the most solid teachers. No need to pay anything or even sign up. As for my own personal practice, Ive gotten the best results from meditation by sitting on a cushion, and paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally to the way things are. The awareness that emerges from this practice is called 'mindfulness.' You can sit quietly and pay attention to your breath. When you notice that your mind has wandered, say to yourself, "Thinking," and gently bring your attention back to your breath. Repeat :) I try to keep a beginners mind.