Questioner
Is there a best time to do meditation?
Jonathan
There is no general best time. Meditation is usually more effective when you are feeling comfortable and alert. Choose what suits you personally. It helps if you are fully awake, not tired, not after a heavy meal, reasonably relaxed and without too many urgent tasks in your mind or excessive distraction. For some people that may be first thing in the morning, for others in the evening.
Meditation is less likely to work when you are tired, distracted by concerns, task and worries. In this case, a teacher or spiritual friend may help. But when on your own, choose your prime time.
There is a common misunderstanding that meditation is something you do. What most people call meditation is actually the creating of a comfortable framework such as sitting alone or in a group of like-minded friends, in a pleasant, comfortable place when you have relatively few distractions. Then meditation, natural awareness, may occur. There is no effort involved, nor aim, nor method. A bit like the weather – there may be sunshine, or rain, or not. That is all.
Morning meditation example
When you awaken in the morning
- Go to the toilet to help relax your body.
- Have a drink of tea or coffee or water – whatever suits you.
- Dress in something comfortable for sitting.
Then
- Sit somewhere pleasant and quiet.
- If possible, face a tree, plant, the sea or some other natural thing but not a picture of your family.
- Observe whatever happens: sights, sounds, sensations, thoughts and emotions – your experience – moment by moment as it changes.
- Distinguish between reality (what is happening now) and your creativity (whatever your thoughts create but is not actually happening, now).
That is enough.
Enjoy your meditation 🙂