Is listening to music while meditating just escapism?

[Xenophon]

I based that comment of mine on this comment() of HoldAll.

If listening to music isn't meditation(as classic meditation is about quietness) then technically speaking movement isn't meditation either, as classic meditation is about being in a static position(sitting).

Is it? That's the hoary old image: Buddha under his bodhi tree. But the nigh-as-hoary Therevada tradition makes a big thing of walking meditation. Wat Sanamnai where I sojurned dispenses with simple sitting altogether in favor of staying seated and making a series of arm movements. They also split time about equally between that and walking, as do a great many of the old-style Buddhists.

The point I was driving at (perhaps erratically) is that walking, sitting, what have you are all acts of the meditator. Music, of its nature, obtrudes the mood of the composer. As such, it represents an ineradicable distraction.

 

[HoldAll]

I based that comment of mine on this comment() of HoldAll.

If listening to music isn't meditation(as classic meditation is about quietness) then technically speaking movement isn't meditation either, as classic meditation is about being in a static position(sitting).

That's a valid point. However, walking meditation is not usually accompanied by music either, as far as I know.

For a time I was running with a (neo-tantra) NewAge crowd where we'd sometimes do Osho's Dynamic Meditation in which music and losing yourself in movement play a major part. It's a good exercise but I wouldn't classify it as 'meditation' today.

I try to maintain an empty mind whenever I take a walk but that's not meditation either in my book, more an attempt to carry over what I've learned during sitting meditation into daily life, a continuation of my daily practice. I don't mind street noises during these walks but any music from car radios, for example, tends to throw me off course; the worst are familiar pop songs which get stuck in my head, it's almost impossible to get rid of those.

Post automatically merged: May 1, 2024

The point I was driving at (perhaps erratically) is that walking, sitting, what have you are all acts of the meditator. Music, of its nature, obtrudes the mood of the composer. As such, it represents an ineradicable distraction.

For me, the empty mind is a state where anything could happen from one second to the next whereas music always follows a predictable beat or at least some kind of melody; compared to an empty mind, it's orderly and harmonious (or sticky sweet, as is the case with much meditation music). When meditating my goal is a blank canvas on which both intruding thoughts and music would only add unwelcome splotches of colour.

 

[Tiana Silvermoon]

I don't mind street noises during these walks but any music from car radios, for example, tends to throw me off course; the worst are familiar pop songs which get stuck in my head, it's almost impossible to get rid of those.

Technically speaking, you should be able to focus on meditation despite anything that goes on around you (except for dangers). And when you learn meditation, you might even focus on distracting or annoying things to learn how to let them go. For example you may meditate on pleasant sound/music one week and on unpleasant the next week. In the end you find out that it doesn't matter what sound you hear if you don't attach an emotion to it.

 

[HoldAll]

Technically speaking, you should be able to focus on meditation despite anything that goes on around you (except for dangers). And when you learn meditation, you might even focus on distracting or annoying things to learn how to let them go. For example you may meditate on pleasant sound/music one week and on unpleasant the next week. In the end you find out that it doesn't matter what sound you hear if you don't attach an emotion to it.

I read somewhere that meditation meant 'ceasing to struggle'. What this also means for me is that I don't shut out any noises that may surface in my environment - my street usually produces noises because that's what streets do, so I don't have any quarrel with it; my neighbour runs his washing machine so I calmly accept that instead of struggling against the noise, and if he plays music, I'm ok with that, too. What you're suggesting, however, is a totally novel idea for me… reminds me of a story about a Buddhist master who had this checking-out test for his students: He'd ask them to sit in silent meditation with their eyes closed. After a while, he'd drop a stack of phone books, and whoever flinched was not ready yet because it meant that they weren't 100% accepting of their environment. So your suggestion would be to deliberately create a noisy environment to strenghten my meditational muscle, so to speak; good idea but I think I'm not ready for this yet but thanks for the input anyway!

 

[Xenophon]

That's a valid point. However, walking meditation is not usually accompanied by music either, as far as I know.

For a time I was running with a (neo-tantra) NewAge crowd where we'd sometimes do Osho's Dynamic Meditation in which music and losing yourself in movement play a major part. It's a good exercise but I wouldn't classify it as 'meditation' today.

I try to maintain an empty mind whenever I take a walk but that's not meditation either in my book, more an attempt to carry over what I've learned during sitting meditation into daily life, a continuation of my daily practice. I don't mind street noises during these walks but any music from car radios, for example, tends to throw me off course; the worst are familiar pop songs which get stuck in my head, it's almost impossible to get rid of those.

Post automatically merged: May 1, 2024

For me, the empty mind is a state where anything could happen from one second to the next whereas music always follows a predictable beat or at least some kind of melody; compared to an empty mind, it's orderly and harmonious (or sticky sweet, as is the case with much meditation music). When meditating my goal is a blank canvas on which both intruding thoughts and music would only add unwelcome splotches of colour.

I guess that's what I'd like to have said. (The sincerest form of flattery: "Doh! What that guy said!")

Post automatically merged: May 1, 2024

Technically speaking, you should be able to focus on meditation despite anything that goes on around you (except for dangers). And when you learn meditation, you might even focus on distracting or annoying things to learn how to let them go. For example you may meditate on pleasant sound/music one week and on unpleasant the next week. In the end you find out that it doesn't matter what sound you hear if you don't attach an emotion to it.

I tend to fall into the purist camp, but what you say here reminds me of Philip Kapleau (I can't recall whether it's in Three Pillars of Zen or not.) After his initial satori and some further practice, his teacher sent him to wander and practice elsewhere as is the custom. He would up in a Thai wat where during meditation sessions stray dogs fairly often fought beneath the meditation hall (built on stilts as it was.) He noted that, with practice, this ceased to be a hindrance to practice.

 

[newChemist]

hi there and happy 2025!

This post is rather self-explanatory; so I will keep this short and sweet.
Does any of you use audio in any shape/form for meditation?

If yes, then why do you use the audio, and what sort of audio is it that you use?

Also, is it generally speaking a good idea to use audio for meditation when I myself am not used to using audio?
I have heard of videos on youtube claiming to help with "binaural frequencies" or something similar, but always have been rather sceptical.

I'd love to hear what you all have to say about this.
Have a great night!

 

[Yazata]

Please use search to see if your question has already been asked before:

Is listening to music while meditating just escapism?

So I've got a steady daily practice with empty-mind meditation at its core going for several months now. I have nothing spectacular to report so far and I'm fine with that. It would be a lie to claim that the scales have finally dropped from my eyes or anything, or that I'm experiencing a...

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[Morell]

So I've got a steady daily practice with empty-mind meditation at its core going for several months now. I have nothing spectacular to report so far and I'm fine with that. It would be a lie to claim that the scales have finally dropped from my eyes or anything, or that I'm experiencing a heavenly calm and divine serenity once I sit down on my cushion. My goal is to wipe the slate of my mind clean, or rather allow the slate to wipe itself clean without me interfering in any way.

I freely admit that after decades of armchair magicianship, I may come on like a purist here ranting with the fanatical zeal of a recent convert, but I feel that meditation while listening to music is not meditation at all. For me music is nothing more than a distraction, artifically inducing emotions I would not normally have, a sort of lazy trance. So of course I could experience that heavenly calm and divine serenity, given the right spaced-oout ambient sounds in the background but what would be the benefit of that? Could it really lead to genuine spiritual transformation, or is it just kicking back and chilling out? Are there real benefits in listening to music while meditating?

I perform meditation mainly when listening to music. Music has a purpose in meditation, but it doesn't make you meditate, it makes you relax both mind and body when chosen well. It doesn't have further effect beyond that and someone can mistake feeling good for real meditative or altered state of mind. In that case it can be called escapism, or simply wrong understanding.
Music itself however doesn't block deeper meditative state or entering the void, when I get to those states, I stop hearing the music, even though it keeps playing (even with headphones I stop hearing it). So it doesn't rob me of that silence at all.

 

[Amadeus]

I do most of the meditations without listening to anything. Often I do keep the TV on, a documentary and very low volume.
Nature documentaries are great, landscapes, little to no talking or just keep the volume low/off.
Almost all the meditations that I'm doing are based on spamming something like mantras, so I prefer to keep it quiet. All kinds of noises, distractions, they can steal the focus.

Once in a while I might do a fully passive session where I'm not repeating anything, just listening to something on YT.
Other times I listen and repeat along.

I think music with lyrics, it can turn into a distraction, unless you are doing some kind of a guided meditation?

 

[newChemist]

Please use search to see if your question has already been asked before:

Is listening to music while meditating just escapism?

So I've got a steady daily practice with empty-mind meditation at its core going for several months now. I have nothing spectacular to report so far and I'm fine with that. It would be a lie to claim that the scales have finally dropped from my eyes or anything, or that I'm experiencing a...

wizardforums.com

I just found out we had a search function lmao. I thought the started-by function in the filters tab was meant to be the search function but only after 2 weeks I realize the search oprion has been in the rop row the entire time haha.

 

[Morell]

I think music with lyrics, it can turn into a distraction, unless you are doing some kind of a guided meditation?

Depends. Definitely it is more distracting, especially if it is your mother language. But for example latin or fantasy languages don't have such strong effect, as they are voices but feel more artistic and kind of without meaning that would provoke the mind to think about the meaning of the words.

 

[Ziran]

Does any of you use audio in any shape/form for meditation?

I do.

If yes, then why do you use the audio, and what sort of audio is it that you use?

I like to use the sound of water flowing. It's white-noise. But I don't always use it.

Also, is it generally speaking a good idea to use audio for meditation when I myself am not used to using audio?

It depends. The only potential for harm I've noticed, or that I'm aware of, is losing track of time and meditating for a hour when I'm intending to be 'away' for 5-10 minutes.

I have heard of videos on youtube claiming to help with "binaural frequencies" or something similar, but always have been rather sceptical.

Help with what?

 

[Amur]

I have an attitude to meditate in any noise. Which is harder but it's managable. So that you don't get distracted by the noise.

 

[Amadeus]

I have an attitude to meditate in any noise. Which is harder but it's managable. So that you don't get distracted by the noise.

That's a really good attitude. I try to do that too, regardless of the noise.
Like on the bus, train, anywhere. The states aren't so perfect though and it's probably better not to get too carried away, especially when you are walking around, might not notice the traffic In a forest though it's perfect.

I like to use the sound of water flowing

Those are great, nature sounds.

 

[Amur]

That's a really good attitude. I try to do that too, regardless of the noise.
Like on the bus, train, anywhere. The states aren't so perfect though and it's probably better not to get too carried away, especially when you are walking around, might not notice the traffic In a forest though it's perfect.


Those are great, nature sounds.

Yeah been doing it for a longer time and it has really increased my personal awareness and concentration. A great practice and can be done anywhere. One great anchor is to return to the breath if you go flying somewhere.

 

[beardedeldridge]

I find music to be more of a crutch to help block out more intrusive noises. Not really good or bad but I would recommend learning to not need it eventually.

But like Xeno said above, once you get to a certain state the music and any other noises (and most sensations) just fall away.

few personal notes:

* after years of the practice I can meditate through almost anything
** but I can’t start meditating with some types of steady pain very well, out of curiosity I tried to start meditating during a tattoo years ago with lack luster results
*** there are a couple of TV shows I have a hard time starting a meditation session when they’re on, something about the cadence of some voices maybe - ex: if my wife is watching greys anatomy in the next room, it has a couple of people who make it very hard for me to start meditating if they’re speaking - but if I’m already meditating then they can’t pull me out of it

-Eld

 

[Amur]

** but I can’t start meditating with some types of steady pain very well, out of curiosity I tried to start meditating during a tattoo years ago with lack luster results

Through Ninjutsu practices I can now do unconscious states for myself so that I meditate throughout the night. Now I've managed to meditate in maximum pain throughout the night, but for some reason my mind started thinking that I'm getting tortured at night so stopped doing it.

 

[coffee221]

Depends on the music i suppose? I need background noise to be able to think and focus, so bineural beats, even if mundane, give me that noise so i can focus on the meditation. Music with lyrics is too distracting and i start fantasizing, but i put on some trance and my mind becomes sharper