Is it better to meditate in silence or guided?

I absolutely find guided meditation way more effective because it helps you keep coming back when things are tough or you’re too busy and it also gives you some clarity and takes the pressure off of yourself to come up with a session. If you don’t know where to start, download the headspace app, which is brilliant.

Do guided meditations have the same benefits?

The health benefits of guided meditation & unguided meditation are largely the same. Some of these benefits include increases in heart rate variability (HRV), stress reduction, increase of the brain’s grey matter & much more.

What are 2 different benefits of meditation?

The mental health benefits of meditation include better focus and concentration, improved self-awareness and self-esteem, lower levels of stress and anxiety, and fostering kindness. Meditation also has benefits for your physical health, as it can improve your tolerance for pain and help fight substance addiction.

Is silent meditation good?

This is why the number one benefit that people tend to find from silent meditation retreats is a sense of acceptance. This can help with virtually every part of your life—and more pertinently a way to accept tragedies and difficulties that come your way. It can be a powerful tool as you learn to cope with difficulties.

What’s the difference between guided and unguided meditation?

Typically, unguided meditation is done without any external tools. Guided meditation can be experienced through digital apps such as Headspace or through local meditation groups led by an experienced practitioner.

How different types of meditation affect the brain?

Mindfulness meditation increased thickness in the prefrontal cortex and parietal lobes, both linked to attention control, while compassion-based meditation showed increases in the limbic system, which processes emotions, and the anterior insula, which helps bring emotions into conscious awareness.

Can you compare the chanting practice with meditation?

Since I have only tried one form of meditation, and there are many, I am going to describe the chanting practice and you can compare it with the meditation practice you do. The chanting practice in Nichiren Buddhism is not an inward practice. It’s an outward practice done with the eyes open.

What is the difference between Zen and silent meditation?

Silent meditation is based on disbelief that voice (or chanting) can be a vehicle for expressing the truth of life. Denying that sutras, words or voice can present the truth – is most met in Zen and its reliance of silent meditation. This perspective is based on dualistic understanding of phenomena.

What are the two ways of Buddhist practice?

There are two ways of Buddhist practice: one is silent meditation, the other is verbal chanting. Silent meditation was the dominant practice in various Buddhist traditions for hundreds of years. Meditation was extensively performed daily over many hours by monks in temples and retreats.

What is the purpose of chanting?

The purpose of chanting is to tap into the creative power, compassion and wisdom that exists within of us, so that we can bring those enlightened qualities out to be used in everyday life and to be able to put our lives in rhythm with that energy. Practitioners chant about goals and issues and then go out and deal with them in daily life.