Meditation has a rich vocabulary, from beginner’s mind and karma to mantra and non-attachment. This guide explains the concepts I meet most often in my own practice, in plain language, with notes on where I first came across them.
Beginner’s mind
Beginner’s mind is a state of openness, keenness and a lack of preconception, even at an advanced level. It brings humility, learning and growth, and it puts us in a state of receptivity. Whatever you do today, approach it as if for the first time and notice how different it feels when you let go of conditioned habits and patterns. It is a useful attitude on the cushion too: each sitting is new.
View, conduct and meditation
These three terms often describe a spiritual path: how you see the world (view), how you act in it (conduct) and how you train the mind (meditation). I met them in connection with Vipassana, the technique I practise daily. Changing how you see inevitably changes how you live. For me, that has meant stepping away from many of the conditioned expectations I grew up with, such as the default drive to work, earn and save. Read how Vipassana begins with anapana.
Om Ah Hum
I first learned this mantra at a retreat in Dharamshala. On the wall by the dining table was a drawing of a smiling Buddha rubbing his belly, with a suggestion to imagine a tiny Buddha gratefully receiving your food at the heart centre while silently reciting the mantra. In Tibetan Buddhist practice, Om Ah Hum is associated with body, speech and mind. For me, it is a way to bring gratitude and presence to a meal.
Sit still and do nothing
Doing nothing is harder than it sounds. A period of enforced stillness is a chance to stop doing and start being: to meditate, read, go outside and reflect on how we want to live. You do not need a crisis to try it. Ten minutes of deliberate stillness each day is a good place to begin.
Awareness is gradual
After nearly a decade of regular yoga, I am still discovering new postures and new blind spots. Two lessons keep recurring: awareness of our blind spots comes slowly, and the stuff that hurts is often where the growth is. Be patient with the pace of insight.
Karma and karma yoga
Karma is the idea that actions have consequences. How you understand it shapes how you experience it. Believing your actions matter, you tend to act with care, and the results reinforce that belief. Karma yoga is the practice of selfless action, often through everyday tasks done with full attention. For a practical take, see mindful habits.
Notes from the Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita, meaning ‘Song of God’, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture within the epic Mahabharata. Its call for selfless action inspired many figures in India’s independence movement, and Mahatma Gandhi referred to it as his ‘spiritual dictionary’. It is a rich text for anyone interested in duty, action and the nature of the self. For related ideas, see my posts on sadhana practice and what renunciation means.
Maha Shivratri
Maha Shivratri is an annual Hindu festival celebrating the union of Shiva and Parvati, sometimes called the night of the heavenly dance of Shiva. Observances include fasting, yoga, self-study and worship. In north Goa, where I live, our community marks it with a party. It is a lively reminder that spiritual practice can include celebration.
Breath and the exhale
I once took a breath pattern analysis and workshop that changed how I breathe. As a long-time meditator I had a very slow, long breath, and I realised I was holding on to it, using the slow exhale to manage my response to events. After a few days of practice my exhale became more natural. It is a reminder that even familiar habits hide patterns worth examining. Learn more in my breathwork for beginners guide.
Hold on tightly, let go lightly
This line comes from the film Croupier, in which the lead character stays philosophical when his luck turns: easy come, easy go. I find it a mindful way to live. Give your full effort and attention, then release the outcome. Non-attachment is not indifference. It is care without clinging.
Reverence and the heart space
Bowing to another person is a way of respecting ourselves as well, and gathering in community acknowledges the ritual of togetherness. Many traditions describe the heart as the seat of right thought, speech and action. Whatever your belief, these practices shift attention away from self-concern and towards connection.
Continue exploring
If you are new to meditation, begin with your questions about meditation answered and the mindfulness practices list. Download my free mindfulness guide for a short companion.