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Meditate
Meditate

Sit, breathe, be present

A quiet space before or after your jap. Choose a time, a breath and a sound, press begin, and let the circle breathe with you.

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Tip: put your phone face down. A bell will tell you when the time is up.

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Bells
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Every sitting, every mala

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Ways to sit

Find a practice that suits you

Try one for a week before moving to another.

Breath awareness

Simply watch the breath as it comes and goes. When the mind wanders, notice, and return.

So Hum

A traditional breath mantra: silently hear 'So' as you breathe in and 'Hum' as you breathe out. Often translated as 'I am That'.

Om

Chant Om slowly on each out-breath, then rest in the silence that follows.

Box breathing

In for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4. A steady, even rhythm that settles a busy mind.

Relaxing breath

In for 4, hold for 7, out for 8. A slow pattern many people use before sleep.

Jap, then sit

Count your mantra on the circle, then rest in silence for a few minutes when the mala is complete.

Sound and prayer

Sound has always carried prayer

Long before concert halls, people found that melody, rhythm and steady breath could quiet a restless mind. In India, sound itself (vak, nada) was held sacred, and chanting, singing and listening became paths to stillness.

That is why the background sounds here are simple: a drone, a bell, water, rain. Something to rest on, never something to follow.

  1. Vedic period

    The Samaveda

    The Rigveda is recited with three pitch accents. The Samaveda sets many of its verses to melody, sung by the udgatr priest at the yajna using a wider range of notes. Indian tradition has long seen these chants (samans) as the root of its classical music.

  2. Yoga texts

    Nada yoga, the yoga of sound

    Nada Brahma, 'the world is sound', runs through Indian thought. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika describes nadanusandhana: listening first to outer sound, then to the subtle inner sound (anahata nada), until the mind becomes absorbed. The veena and the human voice became tools of meditation.

  3. Shraman traditions

    Jain and Buddhist chanting

    Steady, metred chanting of the Navkar Mantra, stotras and stavans in Jain practice, and of suttas and protective verses in Buddhist practice, gives the mind a rhythm to rest on and return to.

  4. Bhakti saints

    Kirtan and bhajan

    From Mirabai and Tulsidas to the Varkari abhangs of Tukaram, the bhakti saints carried devotion in song, sung together in villages and temples in the languages of the people.

  5. Sikh Gurus

    Gurbani kirtan

    Guru Nanak Dev Ji sang his shabads with Bhai Mardana on the rabab. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is arranged by raag, in 31 main raags, and kirtan remains at the heart of every gurdwara.

  6. Around the world

    A shared human instinct

    Greek thinkers spoke of mousike restoring harmony to the soul. Christian monasteries developed plainchant, and Sufi traditions in the subcontinent gave rise to qawwali. Everywhere, people found that sound can carry the mind towards stillness.

Before you sit

Four simple tips

1Sit comfortablyOn the floor or a chair, spine upright but relaxed.
2Same time, same placeA small daily habit grows faster than a long, rare one.
3Start smallFive minutes is plenty. Add more only when it feels natural.
4Be kind to the mindWandering is normal. Each return is the practice.
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Quick answers

Meditation questions

Short answers before you sit.

How long should a beginner meditate?

Start with 5 to 10 minutes a day at the same time and place. A short daily sitting builds the habit faster than a long, occasional one.

What is So Hum meditation?

So Hum is a traditional breath mantra. You silently hear 'So' as you breathe in and 'Hum' as you breathe out. It is often translated as 'I am That'.

What is 4-7-8 breathing?

Breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 7 and breathe out for 8. It was popularised by Dr Andrew Weil from yogic pranayama, and many people use it to relax before sleep.

What is box breathing?

Breathe in for 4, hold for 4, breathe out for 4 and hold for 4. The even rhythm helps settle a busy mind.

Can I meditate after my jap?

Yes. In 'Jap, then sit' mode you tap the circle for each repetition, and when your mala is complete a bell rings and a few minutes of silent sitting begin on their own.

Is this meditation timer free?

Yes. It works in your browser with nothing to install, and your sittings are saved on your own device.