How long am I ''supposed'' to meditate for anyways?

I've been doing this for about 6 months. I usually try to go 20 minutes, but realistically, I tend to meditate for closer to 12-15 minutes before starting to get restless/uncomfortable/for my mind to wander.

I understand this isnt supposed to be forced, and I'm not trying to force myself, but I'm just wondering if this is normal, or if I may be doing something wrong here. I have a feeling it may be shorter than it should be after 6 months...

By the way I am practicing mindfullness meditation.

 

it is up to you really, you can practice to go longer and longer. most people say 15-20 minutes, twice a day.

some people do it for hours a day.

whatever you feel like doing, if you want to go longer try splitting it up and going for longer and longer.

 

OK, thanks for your answer.

 

Simple seated meditation is very challenging to have fast spiritual growth in probably because we were all raised in a fairly over-stimulated world. I kind of cheated and obtained longer meditation periods through extensive practicing of Qigong and some Yoga prior. The movements in these trance-inducing exercises keep my mind busy so that it holds out from wandering too much.

12-15 minutes is very healthy and impressive, especially for only 6 months (this is a lifelong learning experience); I mean, how many people do you know that can actually sit still, breathe, and do nothing for even that long. Not many. The real thing you should be proud of and should hold focus to is your intentions and your devotion towards daily practice which already seems to be something you're quite good at. By holding these two priorities in your present-mind then in time you will see your meditation length grow and improve upon your very own will as you'll crave to explore further the mystical flavors of Within

 

It depends upon your meditation type. More 'spacy' meditations should be done for less time. You will know if your meditation is 'spacy' by how you feel after. Obviously spacy or not. You should meditate long enough to feel satisfied with the practice during the practice session.


You should meditate the same amount of time each day, during the same time of day, for the first ten years of practice.


If you have received instruction regarding this then follow that instruction rather than what we, your internet audience may suggest. That may sound obvious but some people do not like following directions and are always looking for someone to tell them what they want to hear.


There is a list of places which are best for practicing meditation. If you do a search on the subject you will find it.


You should meditate when your mind is most rested, and least cluttered. For that usually the morning is best. But for some they wake up with a list of things they must do immediately and so maybe later is better. In no case should one meditate right before sleep at night. Even though meditation might make sleep more profound, if you make a habit of meditation prior to sleep then your mind will start to confuse the two.


Some powerful mantra meditations need only some 20 minutes of meditation, once or twice a day (Transcendental Meditation). Other more formless meditation may need a solid hour, once a day - such as shamatha without object.


I personally recommend that one do their whole practice regardless of all the parts of it, in an hour.

If you find meditation is making you spacy during the day then after you meditate lay down for at least ten full minutes and allow the mind to go back to normal. This will be a good way to allow one mental state to flow naturally into ones normal state, and to allow any physical changes in respiration and anything else to complete itself.

Some people meditate for greater awareness in action, so they do not want the mind to go back to 'normal' between meditation and action. The issue with this is that one is creating an artifical mental state of alertness, and it may be impossible to maintain for any real duration. And then one may resort to straining to maintain that alertness, which may in turn create a more stressed state of being.

That is not a good practice. Meditation should flow, life should flow, thoughts should flow, feelings, everything should flow. A good practice will increase flow and decrease the feeling of unnaturalness.

 

Thanks for you answers guys!

 

The duration depends on the technique. My meditation is based on the Chakra system, and I usually meditate for an hour or more, depending on my tension level. I've been doing it for almost 24 years.

 

I personally don't think your doing anything wrong. You could try extending your time closer to 30 minutes or more. If you want, visit my website and I may have something helpful that can contribute to your meditation.
www.smoothwaave.webs.com

 

I find that it is much easier to be motivated to meditate when I know I am going to do so for only the period of time I am most comfortable with, say 10-15 minutes. Anything longer seems like too big an obstacle when you're unmotivated, especially if it doesn't "fit" with your own natural "rythm".:daisy:

 

This is a good point. It's not like meditation has ever been about forcing anything... quite the opposite actually!

 

There are different forms or methods of meditation. The techniques and even the seeming goals may be different. All forms of meditation that I have studied seem to fall into three overall categories, based on what they are doing with thought in the mind. The forms are not so much inconsistent as they are just different. They are not lower or higher or better or worse. They are just different practices that all lead the practitioner from the normal outward focus of life to an inwardness of awareness. So, I think you should try for a longer time.

 

as long as it takes, i suppose.

 

Go with what feels right. When I first started meditating, it was hard for me to do it for long, but then I started downloading guided meditations. These helped a ton. I don't use them as often now, but still enjoy them for what they are.

Some of these were guided Chakra meditations, which were really useful and helped me to concentrate on a specific energy field.

 

WHat do you want to achieve by meditating?

 

I dont even really know I guess. At first it was to cnotrol my anxiety about life decisions/where I'm going, and also to prepare me for my psychedelic experience, but now it almost seems spiritual. I guess it's just been pretty life changeing so I'm going with it.

 

Just go for as long as what is comfortable for you. When its not comfortable, what good can come of it? Meditation like so so many things is a unique, individual experience for all concerned. So throw your rule book out and do it Shivaya's way, the only way you need.

 

Until you are done meditating, of course.

 

1. A. who told you that you were supposed to meditate at all?

B. if you began believing that there were no rules, why would you concern yourself to ask about the rules now?

2. if it seems to be beneficial, why not meditate all the time?

3. what is NOT meditation?

 

i never time myself or look at a clock beforehand because i feel like if i did i'd be thinking about how many minutes have passed the whole time.

i normally go until i start to get physically uncomfortable from sitting in lotus. a good technique i just discovered is doing a more open hand type mudra in the beginning and switch to a closed-protective type mudra once i notice discomfort

 

I am not able to meditate well. How can I increase my meditation time?