What music do you listen to while meditating?

Music and meditation can go hand in hand provided the music of the right type, genre and consciousness. Firstly you want the compositions to be soulful and uplifting. Secondly the musician that is playing the music should be in a good consciousness. Ideally they will be meditative and prayerful while playing on the instrument, their meditation will of course flow through the instrument and music. Thirdly the music should be haunting and inspiring for you. It will allow you to be peaceful and calm while listening to it. One person’s taste will of course differ from someone else’s. Find something that opens your heart and silences your mind.

Sri Chinmoy loved music. He loved playing instruments and he loved meditative singing.  “It is through music,” he said, “that the universal feeling of oneness can be achieved in the twinkling of an eye.” Often in the meditation classes the Sri Chinmoy Centre offers we play his flute compositions to add to the meditative atmosphere. Other times we sit in silence. If there is a distracting noise outside we will play something more powerful (yet still haunting) like his piano performances.

Here is a list with links of great streams or downloads available for free and are perfect for meditation music. They are mainly by Sri Chinmoy but also by some talented seeker artists from around the globe.

• Flute: Taken from the classic meditation music CD Silence Speaks this track by Sri Chinmoy goes for 17 minutes, a perfect length for a morning meditation.
• Cello: After his meeting with the cello maestro Pablo Casals, Sri Chinmoy received special instructions on the cello and it shines through on this 9 minute performance with vocals at Royal Albert Hall.
• Esraj: Sri Chinmoy’s favourite instrument. It is Indian and played with a bow.
• Blue Flower: Currently one of the premier spiritual music groups. This all female ensemble often travels and only offer free concerts. The meditative music is resplendent with uplifting arrangements and talented musicians.
• Ananda: A male group that play on a combination of western and eastern instruments. Their soulful chants they have kindly shared as tracks and with accompanying music notation should a meditator want to learn them.
• Aum Saraswati: Performed and written by Russian freedom fighter and folk singer Boris Grebenshchikov and performed with Krishna Das, this meditative song is a devotional song to the goddess of music.

Visit our classes page to find the next free meditation classes near you. Music and meditation is a great topic and is covered in the meditation courses.