Vedic meditation · Melbourne
Vedic meditation vs mindfulness
Mindfulness trains your attention: you notice the breath, the body or your thoughts, and gently bring your focus back when it wanders. Vedic meditation works the other way. You use a personal mantra, effortlessly, and your mind settles beyond active thought into deep rest. There is nothing to focus on, observe or control.
How mindfulness works
Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment, on purpose and without judgement. Common practices include following the breath, body scans and noticing thoughts as they come and go. It is widely taught through apps, workplaces, schools and programs such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and it has a strong body of research behind it.
How Vedic meditation works
Vedic meditation comes from the ancient Vedic tradition of India. You sit comfortably with your eyes closed and use a mantra, a sound with no meaning, given to you personally by your teacher. Because the mantra is used effortlessly, the mind naturally settles to quieter levels of thought and then beyond thought altogether. This is called transcending, and it brings a very deep state of rest. You practise for 20 minutes, twice a day.
| Mindfulness | Vedic meditation | |
|---|---|---|
| Main idea | Paying attention to the present moment | Effortlessly settling beyond thought into deep rest |
| What you use | The breath, body sensations or your thoughts | A personal mantra |
| Effort | Gentle focus, returning your attention when it wanders | No focus or concentration |
| Thoughts | Noticed and observed | Natural and welcome, with nothing to control |
| How it’s learned | Apps, classes, courses or books | In person with a teacher, over four days |
| Typical practice | From a few minutes, often daily | 20 minutes, twice a day |
Which is right for you?
Both can help you feel calmer and handle stress better; they simply work in different ways. People often come to Vedic meditation after trying mindfulness or meditation apps and finding it hard to quiet a busy mind. If concentrating feels like more work, or you want a practice that gives you deep rest rather than more focus, Vedic meditation may suit you well. Many people also find the two sit happily side by side.
Learn Vedic meditation in Melbourne
Yeojin Bae teaches Vedic meditation in person in St Kilda, Melbourne, with students travelling from across Melbourne, regional Victoria and interstate. Courses run in small groups over four consecutive days. Once you’ve learned, the technique is yours for life, with free refresher courses and ongoing group sessions.