Frequently Asked Questions

Vedic Meditation is very different to the majority of mainstream ‘meditation’ offerings available today.

Having taught meditation for over two decades, we’ve seen an explosion in the number of techniques and practices labelled as meditation. It’s not hard to see why. There’s an urgent need to counter-balance the roller coaster of life in a way that actually works and doesn’t have negative side-effects.

Much of the growth in meditation is in mindfulness-based approaches, now a multi-billion dollar industry. Originating out of the Buddhist tradition, mindfulness has been packaged in a way that minimises the religious overtones to make it more accessible.

On balance it’s positive there’s more awareness about meditation. However the watch-out is that with so much demand, the market fills up with products of varying quality and effectiveness. We see many things that are called meditation that have little positive impact.

Broadly there are three main styles of meditation:

1. Concentration or Focused Attention

It’s in the name. This approach involves fixing your attention on something with the aim of not thinking anything else. It might be concentrating on a candle, staring at an image or simply focusing on your breath. The goal is to create and maintain a state of silence. This approach takes effort and discipline to maintain. In my experience, people often find it too much hard work and abandon the process pretty quickly.

2. Open Monitoring or Mindfulness

Open Monitoring meditation directs the meditator’s awareness to feelings, thoughts or breathing, with a mood of non-judgment and detachment. The practitioner looks to maintain a sense of calm in the midst of a thought-filled mind. The goal is to become more grounded by developing awareness of the present moment, rather than overreacting to the situation.

3. Automatic Self-Transcending

This is the meditation style we practice and teach – we refer to it as Vedic Meditation. It involves the use of a sound called a mantra to orient the mind towards quieter levels of thinking. The mantra is like a vehicle that the mind hops onto, and automatically the mind moves with the mantra to experience finer and finer layers of thinking. A point comes when the mantra disappears and the mind falls quiet. This is a state of pure inner contentedness for the mind. The mind is alert, however there are no thoughts going on.

Different meditations have different effects.

Just as different meditation techniques are approached and practised differently, they also produce very different effects on the mind and body.

When examining different techniques, there are three aspects we look at:

1. What’s the effect on brain functioning?

The brain is the most important organ in the human body, governing and coordinating our thoughts and actions at the centre of the nervous system. Therefore it makes sense to know what impact a particular practice is having on the brain. Through the use of neural imaging and EEG we can see different parts of the brain are activated and developed with each of these styles.

2. How deeply are you resting?

One of the most important benefits of meditation, is the deep rest that it can deliver. Much deeper than sleep. We all know how much better we feel and perform when we’re well rested, so having a regular way of switching off is key.

3. Is it easy, enjoyable, and practical?

Perhaps this is the most important question of all. Meditation only works when you do it. Is it easy?  Do you look forward to meditating? Or does it feel like hard work? Can you fit this in to your life?

At our Introductory Talks we’ll often ask: “How many people have tried meditation?” About 8 out of 10 hands go up. Then we ask: “And how many of you are meditating every day?” Maybe one hand stays up. Yes, meditation is popular, but finding a practice that you are motivated to do and that fits with your lifestyle can be challenging.

On a personal level we know if meditation wasn’t easy and enjoyable we wouldn’t give it the priority we do. Our students look forward to meditating every day because it feels good to do it. Even more important, they feel better having done it.

For a deep dive into Vedic Meditation, check out our Ultimate Guide to Vedic Meditation.

Vedic Meditation is very different to a mindfulness practice.

Let’s start with a definition of what it means to be mindful:

Mindfulness means to be in the present, fully engaged with whatever is happening in the moment – aware of thoughts but not distracted by them.

Given the aim is to be in the moment, how do we stay present and not get overwhelmed by all the noise in our head?

Mindfulness practices use many different approaches. Some are done while walking, others sitting quietly and others are practised while engaged in an activity, like washing the dishes. They all involve monitoring whatever’s happening with the aim of staying in the present moment. Notice how the body feels, the contact point of the feet with the ground, the feel of the air on the skin, watch the breath and observe thoughts as they float through the mind. Try not to drift into the past or begin planning and speculating about the future.

It takes effort to hold the attention in this way. Thoughts may settle down, but the mind is still engaged in thinking and the body is active to some degree.

Vedic Meditation works differently.

Rather than being a practice of trying to stay in the moment, Vedic Meditation is effortless. You close your eyes and silently repeat a mantra. Your mind automatically settles down to its least-excited state and your body rests profoundly. As a result, you release stress and tiredness.

This is the key to becoming more mindful in life. Because stress and fatigue block our ability to be fully awake and present. Having dissolved those blockages during meditation, you come out more available to perceive what’s actually going on. You’re more mindful. In this way, present moment awareness is an outcome of meditation.

To discover more about the differences between techniques, check out our Ultimate Guide to Vedic Meditation.

Of course everyone’s personal situations are unique, however in our experience students begin to notice changes while on the first few days of the course.

This rapid progress is because Vedic Meditation is a natural technique. That means it’s easy and everyone can do it. We get you meditating on the first day of the course and then we get very clear about how to meditate correctly so you know you’re doing it right.

Most people report feeling calmer, more energised and more focused within the first couple of weeks of meditation.

You don’t have to try to stop thinking in order to meditate. If you try not to think, you end up thinking more!

In Vedic Meditation we teach you a sound (called a mantra) that leads the mind to quieter and quieter layers. You don’t need to do anything. The mantra does it for you.

We’ve taught thousands of people who find the time to meditate every day. We’ve got lots of tips about how to fit this in to very busy lives. And when you’re less anxious and more focused you start to gain time and get stuff done. Including meditation.

This is a question we hear at nearly every Introductory Talk. The short answer is “No”. If you can think, you can meditate. You simply need to be open, curious and willing to follow some simple instructions.

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning and then again in the late-afternoon or early evening.

There’s a lot of flexibility around timing and it’s not necessary to meditate at the same time each day.

By meditating before the day gets going, you take all the energy and clarity that comes from meditation into your busy day. Everything that you put your attention on post-meditation is positively impacted by you being sharper, calmer and more awake.

Then towards the end of the working day, you meditate again to clear out the tiredness and stress that you’ve gained during the day. This means you go into your evening refreshed and ready to enjoy yourself in a completely different way.

Learning Vedic Meditation is more than simply taking a course over four days. Learning this powerful tool is the beginning of a journey and we’re committed to being with you along the way.

This is why the ongoing support that we provide to our students is such a popular and vital part of the overall process.

There are many ways we support our students:

• Once you’ve learned from us, you can come to group meditations for free. These are offered every month, either online or in-person. These are a fantastic way to check in, ask questions and stay connected.
• You will also receive the Meditator’s Map support programme. This is a weekly email with tips, reminders, and short videos. You can see the first of these messages here.
• We regularly offer free Refresher sessions to revisit the fundamentals of correct meditation and these are very popular ways for meditators to plug in and refine their practice.
• We have a wonderful podcast, Speaking of Meditation showcasing interviews with meditators who share their experiences and inspiring results with Vedic Meditation.
• We have two bestselling books, Why Meditate? and Do Reset that meditators love to refer back to – like guidebooks to deepen your understanding and stay inspired.
• We also stay in touch by email and social media. You’ll get regular notifications from us about special courses, workshops and retreats. You can also check out the Listen Watch Read section on our website for more inspiration.

No, quite the opposite. Meditators find that they are even sharper, more driven and more focused.

You don’t turn into a spaced-out bliss bunny. You actually get better at dealing with the things that matter in your life. You also get clearer about what those priorities are.

No chanting. You simply sit in a comfortable chair with your eyes closed.

No. We’re not going to ask you to stop drinking coffee and start eating kale. You don’t have to change your life at all in order to learn.

That said, some people learn because they want to stop smoking, or reduce their drinking, or change other habits. Meditation will help.

The course is structured over four two-hour sessions over four days in a row.

Group courses are mostly Thursday – Sunday. Sessions on Thursday and Friday are in the evening, and on Saturday and Sunday they’re either in the morning or the afternoon. We also offer courses during the day, Monday – Thursday.

Private courses are also over four consecutive days. We’ll work out the timings according to your schedule.

Introductory talks are offered online.  When you sign up, you’ll get the details to connect via Zoom.

We teach the full course in Notting Hill in London.

Nope. No robes, no shaven heads, no chanting.

The Veda is the umbrella body of knowledge from ancient India. It’s the source of meditation, yoga, Ayurveda and all Eastern philosophy. So Vedic Meditation has that cultural reference point. Yet, the practice itself is a simple mental technique, free of dogma or belief.

We’ve taught people from all the world’s major religions — there is no conflict.

Jillian Lavender and Michael Miller teach independently and are not affiliated with the TM organisations or any other organisation. Services, processes and programmes may differ.

Not at all. The group courses involve discussion about the technique and the effects you are noticing. We won’t be talking about your parents or your neuroses.

• To take a deep dive into Vedic Meditation, understanding the techniques and benefits, and how it compares to other styles of meditation, check out our Ultimate Guide to Vedic Meditation.
• We have a popular podcast, Speaking of Meditation showcasing interviews with meditators who share their experiences and inspiring results with Vedic Meditation.
• We have two bestselling books, Why Meditate? and Do Reset — fully explore Vedic Meditation and what it will do for you.
• Check out the Listen Watch Read section on our website for more inspiration.